Photo: Alpine Racing
The Alpine Academy has added Niko Lacorte, a race winner in Italian Formula 4, to its roster.
Lacorte, the son of international sportscar racer Roberto, stepped up from karting to cars for the final three rounds of the 2022 Italian F4 season with Iron Lynx before moving across to sister squad Prema for 2023.
He took a heat win the opening round at Imola, though he didn’t finish an outright podium thereafter and ended the year ninth in the points.
“It is a great pleasure for me to join Alpine F1 Team’s driver development programme and to have the opportunity to work with the Alpine Academy team for the upcoming 2024 season and beyond,” he said.
”I am thankful to have the trust of the Alpine Academy management and I am more than sure that this opportunity will help me to progress in my career and aid in my further development, both as a driver and a person.”
Lacorte has recently been testing with Trident’s team in the Alpine-supported Formula Regional European Championship (pictured).
Julian Rouse, who was head of Alpine’s academy before taking on the role of interim sporting director for the F1 team in a recent reshuffle, added: “It is great to have Nicola joining our young driver programme for the 2024 season. We are continuing to expand the Alpine Academy programme and bring in new talent to support through their career.
“We are looking forward to helping Nicola develop as a driver, both on and off the track. As with our current drivers, Nicola will benefit from the support and knowledge of both the Alpine Academy and the wider Alpine F1 Team.”