The French team announced its reserve drivers for the 2025 season. Franco Colapinto and Ryo Hirakawa will compete not only to be reserves, but to reach a place in the top category.
In the last weekAlpine made important announcements about who would make up his reserve team for the season 2025and confirmed the incorporation of Ryo Hirakawa and Ryo Hirakawa. Both drivers will have the opportunity to serve as reserves, as they seek to demonstrate their potential to achieve a starting spot in motorsport’s top category. The team also confirmed Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan as starting drivers to start the season, although the Australian’s contract only applies for five races, leaving open the possibility for Colapinto occupy that place.
In this context, Hirakawawho has extensive experience in endurance competitions and has already worked as a test pilot in the Formula 1did not take long to highlight his position. In a recent interview, the Japanese made clear his aspirations to consolidate himself as a starting driver, which highlights the tough internal competition that the Argentine will face.
Ryo Hirakawa
Pagina Oficial de la F1
¿Quién es Ryo Hirakawa?
Ryo Hirakawa, nacido el 7 de marzo de 1994 en Hiroshima, inició su carrera en la Fórmula 3 Japonesa, destacándose por su talento y habilidad al volante. Posteriormente, dio el salto a la Super Fórmula, una de las competencias más desafiantes fuera de Europa, donde continuó consolidándose como uno de los grandes talentos de Asia.
El momento culminante de su carrera llegó en 2022, cuando obtuvo la victoria en las 24 Horas de Le Mans junto al equipo Toyota Gazoo Racing. Además, logró su segundo título en la categoría Hypercar del Campeonato Mundial de Resistencia (WEC), demostrando su consistencia y versatilidad en competencias de alto nivel. En 2024, participó en los entrenamientos libres del Gran Premio de Abu Dhabi junto con McLaren y en el test de postemporada con Haas, acumulando experiencia valiosa para su desembarco en Alpine.
Como parte del equipo francés, Hirakawa formará parte del programa TPC (Test Previous Cars), contribuyendo al desarrollo del equipo al pilotar monoplazas de temporadas anteriores. Y su debut oficial está programado para el 4 de abril, durante las practicas libres 1 del Gran Premio de Japón, en Suzuka, donde buscará demostrar su capacidad frente a la exigente afición local.
Ryo Hirakawa
MotorSports
The internal struggle in Alpine
What was Hirakawa’s warning to Franco Colapinto?
In an interview with Motorsport, Ryo Hirakawa declared: “I was not satisfied with driving in FP1 in Abu Dhabi last year. “My ultimate goal is to compete in F1 as a full-time driver.”. These words reflect his ambition to not only be part of Formula 1, but to excel in it.
The Japanese also pointed out that his main objective will be to learn from Pierre Gaslythe most experienced driver on the team, and quickly adapt to the car to surpass other drivers. Although he did not directly mention Colapintomade it clear that his goal is to stand out above the other reserve drivers, which underlines the intense competition that the Argentine will face on his way to a starting seat in the Formula 1.
Source: Ambito
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