Alpine completes in-season test at Zandvoort

Formula One's French outfit, Alpine have completed their second in-season test with their reserve driver Jack Doohan getting behind the wheel of the Enstone-based outfit's two-year-old car.

Doohan took to the track in Zandvoort this week as part of the team’s first Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme of 2024 in the team's two-year-old A522 F1 car. The test took place over two days. The aim was to give both the former F2 driver and the team’s race support team the opportunity of growing familiar with on-track procedures.

As reserve driver, Doohan's duties for the current season incorporates trackside, simulator and marketing support.

The test in Zandvoort marked Doohan's second test of 2024, having driven the race-winning A521 in Barcelona in February. The Australian first ran in the A522 when he made his Grand Prix weekend debut at the 2022 Mexico City Grand Prix, taking driving duties for Free Practice 1. He was then back in the car on Friday of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Alpine stated that the race support team will test again with the A522 next month in Austria, albeit the drivers have not been announced yet.

Expanding on his two-day test, Doohan commented: “It was amazing to be back on track in the A522, running the car for the first time at Circuit Zandvoort. We have had a great two days and it was an incredible opportunity to have the track to myself. Running the new era of car meant that it was a super important test which gave the Race Support Team the opportunity to learn, furthering both their knowledge and my own as we get accustomed to the modern machinery.

"We managed to miss the weather on both days and had smooth running so a huge thanks is owed to the team for all their hard work to make it happen. I am grateful for all their support and dedication in the lead up to and during this test and I am looking forwards to getting back out on track with them at Silverstone soon.”