P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine has confirmed it has struck a deal with a new driver ahead of the 2025 F1 season.
Alpine has announced the signing of Ryo Hirakawa as a test and reserve driver for its F1 team in 2025. The 30-year-old will run on the French team’s simulator and participate in a testing of previous cars (TPC) program. Hirakawa will also drive in FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix during the 2025 F1 season. His experience includes overall victory at Le Mans in 2022 and being a two-time hypercar champion in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes expressed excitement about Hirakawa’s addition, emphasizing his diverse racing experience and the positive impact he will have on the team’s development efforts for the upcoming season. Hirakawa himself shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity to work with the dedicated team and contribute to making 2025 a successful year for Alpine.
