THE ALPINE ACADEMY CONFIRMS 4 RIDERS FOR THE 2022 SEASON
The Alpine Academy has bolstered its driver line-up for the 2022 season, adding FIA Formula 3 runner-up, young Australian hopeful Jack Doohan and British F3 youngster Olli Caldwell to their roster, while retaining the Frenchman Victor Martins and Brazilian Caio Collet.
Australian Doohan signed with Formula 2 team Virtuosi Racing in December. The 19-year-old is the son of five-time Moto GP World Champion Mick Doohan and he finished second to Norwegian Champion Dennis Hauger in F3 last year, taking four wins and seven podiums in total.
Caldwell has also joined the academy for 2022 and he will sign with Spanish team Campos Racing, also for F2. The 19-year-old Briton spent the 2021 season with PREMA Racing in F3, taking one win and scoring four podiums, finishing the season eighth overall.
Frenchman Victor Martins was the top-ranked rookie in FIA F3 last season and has transferred from MP Motorsport to ART Grand Prix for his second year in FIA F3. After finishing fifth in the standings last season, the 2020 Formula Renault Eurocup 2020 Champion will be looking to clinch his second single-seater title.
Martins’ teammate at MP Motorsport in 2021, Caio Collet, will remain with the Dutch team for a second season in FIA F3. The Brazilian finished second to Victor Martins in the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2020 and finished his rookie year in F3 in ninth place last year.
The Danish driver Christian Lundgaard, until then a member of the Alpine Academy, née Renault Académie, leaving the program because he signed a multi-year contract with the US Team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to race this year in the American Championship of IndyCar single-seaters.
Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine, says:
“The Alpine Academy remains an extremely valuable part of what we want to achieve in Formula 1. We are passionate about this quest to find the next generation of drivers who can nurture our F1 team. It is also exciting to see the growing strength of the program since its launch in 2016 as last year was none other than its most successful season to date. Among our graduates in 2021, Oscar re-joins our Formula 1 program as the team’s official reserve driver, and he will have an important role alongside Esteban and Fernando this year. We also only have to look at the paddocks of Formula 1 and IndyCar to see two of our former proteges, which demonstrates all the qualities of the structure of the program to prepare drivers for the highest levels. »
And he specifies:
“Like every year, we have high expectations of the Academy and this season is no exception. We welcome two new pilots in Jack and Olli, allied to our duo in Formula 3 formed by Caio and Victor. Everyone brings their own personality and talent and we can’t wait to see how our drivers will develop this season, both individually and collectively. »
Davide Brivio, BWT Alpine F1 Team Competition Director, adds:
“The Alpine Academy is opening a new cycle this year after a season marked by many successes in 2021. This year, our promotion offers a great mix of talents with strong potential. Both Jack and Olli are entering their first full Formula 2 campaigns having already gained experience in the category last year. We are confident that they will adapt well and learn valuable lessons from their first year at the Academy. Caio and Victor are continuing their program for another year and we have high expectations for both of them. They now become Deans of the Academy, so we can’t wait to see them demonstrate everything they’ve learned so far. »
Alpine Academy Director Mia Sharizman says:
“We are only motivated by our successes on the track and our objective as an academy is always to win the Championships in which our drivers participate. Jack has just finished second in Formula 3, showing his real speed in the Championship. »
And she continues and clarifies:
“As Olli enters the Academy after a solid year in F3 where he scored four podiums and a race victory, we accept that it may take him a few races to adapt to his new environment, but we are confident that it will be up and running quickly towards the second half of the season. »
Before adding:
“For Victor and Caio, they know it’s time to step up and fight for the FIA F3 title this season, after a strong first year in the series. They have been part of the Academy for four years and have shown strong development each season. Victor won his first race last year and Caio had some good results. We are excited for both seasons to begin next month.”
Only certainty, one of the two will necessarily be preceded by the other… What will then be the attitude of the Academy towards the loser?
Finally, remember that Alpine should launch its 2022 car, the A522, on Monday February 21, two days before the start of the pre-season of collective tests scheduled on the Spanish circuit of Cataluna in Montmélo north of Barcelona.
Gilles GAIGNAULT
Photo ALPINE ACADEMY
