Following Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, and Le Mans, the FIA WEC heads to South America for the 6 Hours of São Paulo, round four of the season and the final race before the summer break.

Reintroduced to the calendar in 2024, Interlagos is one of motorsport's most iconic circuits. Its anti-clockwise direction, elevation changes and cornering under braking make it particularly demanding for both the drivers and tyres. The track features three very distinct sectors. The first consists of undulating bends and a short straight; the second is both fast and technical and the lap concludes with a full-throttle uphill climb leading to the start-finish line.

Situated 800 metres above sea level, Interlagos is also known for its short layout (4.309 km), making traffic management particularly tricky as the French team has experienced over the past two years. As an added challenge, São Paulo is nicknamed the 'city of drizzle', and Interlagos also has an unpredictable climate that can change rapidly, even more so in the southern hemisphere winter.

On this track, known for producing thrilling races, the Alpine strategists have a wealth of experience to draw on as they navigate the Brazilian challenges. After finishing tenth in 2024 and ninth last year, Alpine Endurance Team returns to São Paulo with a better understanding of the A424 in its 2026 configuration and more data on this unconventional venue.

The aim will be to translate the progress made since the programme began into a convincing result. In car #35, Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg return to a circuit they are already familiar with, and where their teammate António Félix da Costa has won in the Stock Car Pro Series. As for car #36, Jules Gounon and Frédéric Makowiecki will also bring their expertise to bear whilst mentoring Victor Martins, a newcomer to Brazil but now fully integrated into the subtleties of endurance racing after nearly nine hours behind the wheel at Le Mans.

Following Le Mans, the FIA WEC will return to its traditional format of three free practice sessions ahead of qualifying and the Hyperpole on Saturday. The 6 Hours of São Paulo starts on Sunday at 11:30 am local time (4:30 pm CEST). For live coverage of the 6 Hours of São Paulo, visit www.fiawec.com.

Philippe Sinault, Team Principal Alpine Endurance Team
“The 6 Hours of São Paulo is among the most atypical events on the calendar. Interlagos is an old-school circuit, with lots of elevation changes, banked corners, others with camber, and a unique characteristic: the car rarely runs straight and remains constantly under load in the braking zones. It is therefore essential to have a car that is easy to operate and inspires confidence in the driver. Although we haven't achieved the results we'd hoped for there over the past two years, the steps forward we've made since the start of the season should enable us to be more competitive there. We've seen improvements in key areas, particularly in braking and in the ability to deliver power effectively out of corners, two particularly important aspects at São Paulo. The recent races have also shown that bold strategies can pay off. This is naturally encouraging, but boldness cannot be determined in advance. It always depends on how the race unfolds, our position on the grid, the car's performance and the opportunities that arise. Our priority is, first and foremost, to maximise our performance before assessing the strategic options available to us. After Le Mans, we had to quickly mobilise as the equipment was shipped to Brazil just a few days after the race. The whole team has remained fully committed and focused on preparing for this race. Our target for the rest of the season is clear: we have a package capable of consistently challenging for a top-five finish. The goal is to regularly place both our Alpine A424s there, starting this weekend in Brazil.”

Timetable (CEST)


Friday 10 July
16:00-17:30: Free Practice 1
20:50-22:20: Free Practice 2


Saturday 11 July
15:10-16:10: Free Practice 3
20:25-20:37: Hypercar Qualifying
20:45-20:55: Hypercar Hyperpole


Sunday 12 July
16:30-22:30: 6 Hours of São Paulo