Sun Sep 15 11:46:50 UTC 2024: ## Schumacher Secures Maiden WEC Podium for Alpine at Fuji
**Fuji, Japan** – Mick Schumacher delivered a stunning drive to secure Alpine’s first podium finish in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the Fuji Speedway. The German driver, sharing the #36 Alpine A424 LMDh with Nicolas Lapierre and Matthieu Vaxiviere, snatched third place in the final stint, putting Alpine in an impressive position for the season finale in Bahrain.
The race was a rollercoaster for the #36 crew, who faced significant struggles throughout the weekend, including qualifying in 15th place out of 18 entrants. Schumacher, however, expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to overcome adversity, attributing the success to a rapid turnaround in the car’s performance.
“It was tough this time,” said Schumacher. “We started off with the worst car we’ve ever had this year… But on the other hand, we can be really happy with our result. The #35 [sister car] was also at a time, in for the win. For it being our first year in the championship, it’s insane.”
The podium marked Schumacher’s first since his Formula 2 title win in 2020, showcasing his impressive pace and competitive spirit. The driver, who joined Alpine this year after a two-year stint in Formula 1, praised the team’s strategic calls and his own growing confidence in the WEC environment.
“The team has made great calls in strategy all around the race and we really showed potential,” said Schumacher. “I had a lot of fun out there… It’s been a while that I was on the podium.”
The #35 Alpine, driven by Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Jules Gounon, also scored points, finishing seventh after Milesi received a drive-through penalty for a collision with the #81 TF Sport Corvette. Despite the penalty, Alpine secured a double points finish, showcasing its growing strength in the championship.
With the season finale in Bahrain approaching, the Alpine team is eager to build upon this success and fight for further victories in the highly competitive WEC field.
First Piper 