Just a few weeks ago, the prospect seemed serious enough to imagine the A424 changing its name and colours. A programme rebadged as Geely, a proven car with a new look and a team remaining entirely unchanged: everything appeared to be falling into place.
The Chinese manufacturer had indeed explored the possibility of taking over the programme. Representatives visited the Viry-Châtillon and Bourges facilities on several occasions.
Alas, according to our information, the employees were reportedly informed a few days ago. Geely will not take over the operation currently competing under the Alpine banner. A programme that deserved a better fate.
Why has Geely decided against it?
That is difficult to say. Will we ever really know? Perhaps not, given that the discussions between Renault and Geely were never officially confirmed.
What is clear is that the Hangzhou-based company has ultimately decided not to proceed. Was Hypercar simply not a priority? Or did the financial terms of a potential takeover fail to convince Geely? At this stage, there is nothing to suggest one explanation is more likely than the other.
The idea was hardly far-fetched. Geely and Renault Group know each other well. Already partners in Horse Powertrain, alongside Aramco, the two companies have continued to strengthen their ties.
As recently as September, they announced a joint investment of €319 million in Brazil. Far from drifting apart, Renault and Geely are continuing to work closely together on the industrial side.
Despite those close ties, the wait for a Chinese manufacturer to enter endurance racing’s top category will continue. For now, Geely’s motorsport involvement remains focused on the TCR World Tour, where it leads the Teams’ standings with three rounds remaining, at Chengdu, Zhejiang and Macau.
What next for the A424?
When Alpine announced its withdrawal from the WEC at the end of 2026, it did not necessarily spell the end of the A424. Signatech quickly began looking for a way to extend the car’s racing career under a different identity.
Victory at Fuji in 2025 had underlined the car’s progress and demonstrated the potential of an LMDh that once again impressed in Japan ten days ago, even if it missed out on victory for reasons we have already explained.
Like the Acura ARX-06, another LMDh developed in collaboration with Oreca, the A424 looks set, sadly, to be consigned to the museum after the 6 Hours of Monza on 8 November, barring an unexpected turnaround. It therefore has just two races left to add to a record of four podium finishes, including one victory.
Given its performances, the whole affair feels like a terrible waste on Renault Group’s part. Philippe Sinault, Signatech’s founder and president, deserved a much better outcome for his perseverance. After all, he spent ten years working to bring Alpine back to the 24 Hours of Le Mans victory lane, initially through an LMP2 programme.
Now, with no programme on the horizon, Sinault will probably have to let some of his key personnel go, including people who have been loyal to him for years. That means losing expertise painstakingly built up since the LMP2 days.
Is there a Plan B?
Several manufacturers are understood to have held discussions with Renault about taking over the A424 programme. But according to our information, Geely was the only serious candidate. Talks had progressed far enough for the car’s continuation in 2027 under a different identity to become a realistic prospect.
With that possibility now ruled out, Signatech has no concrete solution for next season. That does not necessarily mean everything is over. Sinault and his team will naturally continue to explore whatever opportunities might still arise.
But at this stage of the year, finding a manufacturer willing and able to take over the programme in time for 2027 would be close to a miracle.
Therein lies the paradox. Signatech knows the car and the championship, and already has the people and infrastructure required to continue competing in Hypercar. The A424 exists, it races and it performs. All that is missing is a manufacturer willing to put its badge on the nose.
Geely was supposed to be that manufacturer. It will not be. Barring a highly unlikely turnaround, the Chinese group’s decision brings Signatech ever closer to the end of its Hypercar adventure. And the A424 ever closer to its final race.