The 2-time GT World Problem Europe Endurance Cup title winner with Mercedes takes Habsburg’s seat within the French producer’s #35 A424 LMDh alongside Charles Milesi and Paul-Loup in his function as official reserve for the Signatech-run Alpine Endurance Crew.
Habsburg has been dominated out for at the least the second spherical of the 2024 WEC after sustaining two fractured vertebrae during an endurance test with Alpine on the Aragon ciruit on the finish of March.
Alpine staff principal Philippe Sinault stated: “It is by no means simple to make your debut in such a context, however Jules was recognized, chosen and signed to fill this function, regardless that we by no means imagined it might occur so early like this.
“He is essentially prepared however nonetheless has a lot to be taught, even when he has already demonstrated his mastery of a number of elements, given his monitor document in GT [racing].
“We honed his preparation throughout our newest assessments together with his six team-mates after which within the simulator to arrange him for all our processes.”
Sinault added that Habsburg would “be in our minds” and that his absence is “a tough blow”.
Alpine has given no indication of whether or not Habsburg will probably be slot in time for spherical three of the WEC at Spa on 11 Might.
The 2 fractured lumbar vertebrae had been sustained when Habsburg crashed at Flip 7 at MotorLand Aragon for causes which have up to now not been disclosed by Alpine.
#35 Alpine Endurance Crew Alpine A424: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ferdinand Habsburg-Lothringen, Charles Milesi
Photograph by: JEP / Motorsport Images
The accidents had been solely recognized after Habsburg had returned to his native Austria, regardless of present process checks within the native hospital in Alcaniz.
Gounon, 29, has been a manufacturing facility sportscar driver since he started a three-year stint at Bentley previous to becoming a member of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 roster in 2021.
However Imola will probably be his first race on the wheel of a prototype.
Alpine stated in its pre-race assertion that its mission over the weekend of the Imola 6 Hours will probably be “to assemble as a lot knowledge as doable”.
“Our objective at Imola is to proceed our studying course of to be more and more prepared and achieve momentum for the forthcoming races,” defined Sinault.
“We’ll uncover a circuit fairly totally different from what we have skilled for the reason that first runs of the A424.”
Habsburg, Milesi and Chatin took factors for Alpine on the debut of the A424 developed together with French constructor ORECA within the Qatar 1812Km originally of March.
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