Nicolas Lapierre has been driving the No. 36 Alpine in the World Endurance Championship this season and has a significant decision to make.
The 40-year-old has been racing with former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher and his compatriot Matthieu Vaxiviere.
Lapierre will be heading into the final two rounds at Fuji Speedway and the Bahrain International Circuit on the back of his best result of the WEC season, taking ninth place at Lone Star Le Mans.
The Frenchman told Sportscar365 that it was vital for him to compete this season in the World Endurance Championship, but he is considering other options.
Nicolas Lapierre is considering retirement from the World Endurance Championship
Lapierre has had a successful career with 17 wins in the World Endurance Championship as well as a title in A1GP earlier in his career.
He has still been competitive this year despite being 40 years old and racing with some drivers who are much younger than him.
Alpine have made steady progress throughout the WEC season and, eventually, scored consecutive points finishes for the first time over the past couple of rounds.
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Lapierre spoke of the driving of the current Hypercars and his enjoyment of battling against so many other manufacturers.
He said: “For me, it was really important to race this year because I was part of this project from the beginning and I wanted to be there in the first year.
“But now I have turned 40 and I am looking for the next chapter in my career. I enjoy working outside of the car as well, so I am considering it.
“Right now the championship is so nice and it’s cool to drive with so many manufacturers. I had years in the top class when it was not really like this and I really enjoy it as a driver. It’s not an easy decision. I’m thinking about it.”
If Nicolas Lapierre were to retire, Alpine reserve driver Jules Gounon is a candidate to replace him
Jules Gounon has been very successful across a range of cars throughout his career, winning races in many series.
The Frenchman has won in British GT as well as the IMSA SportsCar Championship, showcasing his versatility across a wide range of cars and tracks.
He has driven in more GT3 championships than prototypes, but that shouldn’t slow him down, as he has proven he can race well in many environments.
Promoting a driver who knows the team and the car may help Alpine push up the grid towards the sharp end, as he knows the culture of the manufacturer.