Alpine stages its fourth STEM activity of 2024
Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Alpine and Microsoft continued the Race Into STEM initiative with the fourth activation of its programme at the team’s Viry-Châtillon site in France.
In the latest collaboration with Microsoft, the French team furthered their global initiative to promote gender diversity in motorsport. The Viry-Châtillon event marked the first Race Into STEM event at an F1 facility with previous STEM events taking place in Mexico City, London and Melbourne which involved over a hundred participants.
Many more students have used the digital Race Into STEM platform which is available worldwide and provides free resources including a curated curriculum by FIA Girls on Track UK and video testimonials from female BWT Alpine F1 Team employees.
The team, along with Fair Chance Learning, a Learning and Development Company, welcomed students from local schools on Monday 24 June to the factory Viry-Châtillon to engage first-hand with careers in motorsport. The programme aims to inspire young women to follow their motorsport passion and be able to envisage a future career in motorsport and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Students were invited to take part in bespoke workshops and activities as well as experience one of the handful of Formula 1 Power Unit factories in the world with tours of the Assembly Shop, Engine Dynos, Design Office and Operations Room in the middle of the busy triple-header for BWT Alpine F1 Team.
They also had the opportunity to hear from Audrey Vastroux, the Director of Operations at Viry-Châtillon, and a selection of engineers who provided advice and understanding about a career in Formula 1.
Alpine's Chief Commercial Officer David Gendry commented: “We are very happy to support our Official Partner, Microsoft, with another successful activation for the Race Into STEM project, this time at our site in Viry-Châtillon.
"Race Into STEM continues to champion equality in motorsport and STEM and works in unison with our Rac(H)er programme to achieve this. Using our own BWT Alpine F1 Team facility in France is another step in playing our part to inspire the next generation of young women who will build the F1 cars of the future.
"We look forward to our next collaboration with Microsoft for Race Into STEM to further our drive for diversity globally," Gendry concluded.
Director of Sports Partnerships at Microsoft, Monica Robbins noted: “We're excited to reach a new destination in the Race into STEM adventure, where we're working with BWT Alpine F1 Team to use the fast-paced world of F1 to ignite curiosity and foster a love for STEM and STEM related fields like motorsports.
"By giving girls the chance to hear the stories of some of the amazing Alpine F1 team members that are showcased on the car, we hope to motivate their own exploration of STEM.”
