Ryō Hirakawa

Date of Birth: 7 March 1994

Place of Birth: Kure, Hiroshima, Japan

Height: 178cm

Ryō Hirakawa joined BWT Alpine Formula One Team at the start of 2025 as Test and Reserve Driver, part of the talented pool of drivers that can be called upon by the team throughout the season.

Born in Kure, Hiroshima, Ryō began karting as a teenager when he turned 13. He was competitive immediately and in his second year, won the 2008 All-Japan Junior Kart Championship before finishing second in the All-Japan Kart Championship a year later.

The young Japanese graduated quickly to single-seaters, joining Formula Challenge Japan where he competed for three seasons and scored numerous wins before a successful step up to Japanese F3 where he achieved a victory on debut and followed that up with six further wins across the first nine races to win the title. At the same time, he competed in Porsche Carrera Cup Japan, winning seven consecutive races and taking the title becoming the youngest ever champion in both Japanese F3 and Porsche Carrera Cup Japan.

Ryō progressed further and made his Super Formula debut in 2013. He raced in the championship from 2013-15 and 2018-23 finishing runner-up in 2020 and winning numerous races. From 2014 through to 2021, Ryō contested Super GT, winning the title in 2017 and finishing runner-up three times in 2018-2020. In 2022, Ryō earned a seat in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Toyota in the Hypercar class. He scored a podium on debut and overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans at his first attempt in the top class. He secured the WEC Drivers’ Championship in 2022 and 2023 and Manufacturers’ crown in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Following similar roles in Formula One with McLaren, Ryō’s responsibilities as Test and Reserve Driver at BWT Alpine Formula One Team include important work on the team’s driver-in-loop simulator at the Enstone factory to enhance car development and he will contest Free Practice One at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit driving the A525.