Alpine have unveiled a new affiliate programme which aims to find future motorsport talent for their junior driver academy.
This new affiliate programme will be titled ‘Alpine Affiliates’ with the goal of providing ‘support and nurture’ for young talented racing drivers, whilst also acting as a second-tier programme with potential for progression into their main Alpine Academy.
Ex Alpine Academy driver, Hadrien David who spent the 2020 season within the academy will headline the first recruits of Alpine’s new programme, as he prepares for a second season in Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA).
W Series’ Abbi Pulling will be the first female member of Alpine Affiliates after enjoying a strong 2021 season, during which she finished seventh overall despite only racing in four W Series races with her best result of second place coming in the season finale in USA.
Bulgaria’s Nikola Tsolov will be another member of the programme as he graduates to single-seater racing with Campos in Spanish F4, plus is also managed by two-time F1 champion and current Alpine driver – Fernando Alonso.
Japan’s Kean Nakamura and Brazil’s Matheus Ferreira complete the rookie line-up within Alpine Affiliates, having both impressed on the karting scene, with both 14 year-olds set to compete in the OK Karting Series for Kart Republic.
All five drivers will receive ‘professional support’ concerning career advice, training, mentoring, PR training plus other vital lessons to help them develop on and off-track, whilst also having access to Alpine’s facilities at Enstone.
Alpine Academy Director, Mia Sharizman will run the programme alongside Alpine’s new Director of Expansion Projects, Davide Brivio.
Following the announcement of the new affiliation programme, Sharizman spoke of feeling “very excited” to launch this new project, which will run alongside the main Academy.
Sharizman also spoke about what he hopes that this programme can achieve as he added: “The programme will help provide young racing drivers across the world with crucial support, career advice and training.
“We have five young drivers entering the programme this year as we welcome Abbi, Hadrien, Nikola, Kean and Matheus into our team.
“Longer term we envisage the Alpine Affiliate programme acting as a feeder for our Academy, as we strive to continue recruiting the most talented young drivers across the globe to future proof Alpine’s success in motor racing.”