Alpine has announced its Academy lineup for the 2023 season featuring eight drivers racing across six categories.
Virtuosi Racing’s Jack Doohan and Victor Martins of ART Grand Prix have remained part of the Alpine Academy for their Formula 2 campaigns.
In Formula 3, Nikola Tsolov (ART GP) makes the jump from an Alpine Affiliate to Alpine Academy Driver after an impressive 2022 display. Meanwhile, Gabriele Mini (Hitech GP) is a new addition to the programme.
Abbi Pulling has also become a fully-fledged academy driver. The 19-year-old Brit has been announced as one of the latest additions to the F1 Academy roster where she will be competing with Rodin Carlin in the all-new, all-female category.
Mattheus Ferreira, Kean Nakamura and Aiden Neate have also been made Academy Drivers. Ferreira is set to compete in his debut season in single-seaters in the Italian Formula 4 Championship. Following a third-place in the 2022 UAE Formula 4 championship, Aiden Neate is yet to confirm his plans for 2023. Nakumura remains in karting.
With Alpine ramping up their sportscar running ahead of a 2024 LMDh entry, Olli Caldwell has graduated from the Alpine Academy but remains associated with the team. He will compete with the official Alpine LMP2 team in the World Endurance Championship.
After four years in the Academy, Caio Collet loses his Academy affiliation but ‘retains a connection’ with the Alpine Racing family.
Academy Drivers will benefit from the facilities at Alpine’s Formula 1 base in Enstone as well as career and racing guidance from the Academy led by Director of racing Expansion Projects Davide Brivio, and Academy Director Julian Rouse.
On the announcement, Laurent Rossi said: “The Alpine Academy has been strengthened and expanded for 2023 as it remains a seminal part of Alpine Racing’s ambitions in motorsport.
“While Formula 1 remains the pinnacle, we have adopted a fresh approach to the Academy from this year to expand opportunities under the Alpine umbrella where we have a presence across many motorsport disciplines.
“We are dedicated to progressing drivers through the racing ranks to open up a greater talent pool across our racing teams.
“Of course, ultimately, the best talent have ambitions of reaching Formula 1 and that remains the objective, but by expanding our vision we will create opportunities to identify, nurture and help our young drivers become accomplished racing drivers who will represent the Alpine brand on a global scale.
“I’m excited to see what the 2023 drivers can achieve, and I look forward to following their respective seasons very closely.”