The Alpine racing stable is becoming increasingly busy. The French team announced on Thursday that it has added Japanese Ryō Hirakawa to its pool of reserve drivers. The young driver will also make his Formula 1 debut in April, when he drives the first free practice for his home crowd in Japan.
Earlier, Alpine had already announced that Formula 2 driver Paul Aron would also be joining the French racing stable as a reserve driver. The team decided to further expand their talent pool with the signing of Hirakawa, so that the team can call upon multiple drivers ‘during the season for testing and driving assignments’. The announcement comes amidst rumours that Franco Colapinto will also soon find a place at Alpine.
Great Opportunity
At the very least, Hirakawa brings a ‘wealth of experience’ to the French team, having previously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Japanese driver is also a two-time Hypercar champion in the FIA World Endurance Championship. “The opportunity for track time in a Formula 1 car is the pinnacle for drivers and I am thrilled to be driving in the first free practice at the Japanese Grand Prix for my home crowd,” Hirakawa responds in the press release. “It’s a great opportunity to work with such a dedicated team that makes use of the broad experience of its driver pool.”
Team Boss Oliver Oakes Anticipates Collaboration with Hirakawa
Team boss Oliver Oakes is also looking forward to working with Hirakawa, emphasizing the importance of the Japanese driver’s arrival. “He brings a wide range of racing experience to our current team and expands the pool of talent we can draw on throughout the season. He will play a crucial role in supporting the team in various development areas through our TPC program and simulator work,” concludes Oakes.
