Alpine has secured the services of former Le Mans winner Ryo Hirakawa, who will be a test and reserve driver – The Japanese driver has already driven for McLaren and Haas in 2024.
Alpine has signed former Le Mans winner Ryo Hirakawa as a test and reserve driver for Formula 1. The Japanese driver will support the French team with development by testing in previous cars and in the simulator, and will act as the team’s second reserve driver alongside Estonian Paul Aron.
He will also contest the first free practice session at his home race in Suzuka at the beginning of April.
“It is an honor to join Alpine as a test and reserve driver for the 2025 season,” says the 30-year-old. ”As always, the opportunity to drive a Formula One car is the pinnacle for race drivers and I am looking forward to driving in front of my home crowd in the first free practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix and working with the team on testing previous cars.
“It’s a great opportunity to work with such a dedicated team that draws on the vast experience of its pool of drivers, and I’m looking forward to doing my part to make 2025 a positive year,” said the Japanese driver.
Hirakawa has already driven for two other Formula One teams last season. In Abu Dhabi, he was first allowed to replace Oscar Piastri in training as a Friday driver at McLaren, before he switched to Haas for the Young Driver Test, who had entered into a technical partnership with Toyota, for whom Hirakawa will continue to drive in the World Endurance Championship.
Welcome to the Team, Ryō
He joins the Team as a Test & Reserve Driver alongside Paul Aron
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— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) January 9, 2025
The Japanese driver also has his greatest sporting successes there: he became world champion in the Hypercar class in both 2022 and 2023, and in 2022 he also took victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside two former Formula 1 drivers, Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley.
“It’s great that we were able to get Ryo on board for 2025 and that he will take over driving duties in front of his home crowd in the first practice session in Japan,” explains Team Principal Oliver Oakes. ”He brings a broad range of race experience to our current squad and expands the pool of talent we can draw on during the season.
“His role will be important in supporting the team in various areas of development through our TPC program and simulator work, and we look forward to welcoming him to the team as we ramp up for the new season.”