Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa has joined McLaren. The 29-year-old will be one of the team’s reserve drivers in 2024, as well as supporting the McLaren Formula 1 Team from 2024 in areas including simulator development at the McLaren Technology Centre alongside time on track as part of their MCL35M testing programme.
Hirakawa is a very familiar name on the racing scene in his home country and around the world.
He won the 2017 Super GT championship with Nick Cassidy, runner-up in Formula E last season.
The Japanese driver has also finished P3 in Super Formula back in 2020. Hirakawa has been racing Liam Lawson in that category this year and sits P4 ahead of the final round at Suzuka.
Last year he was part of the Toyota line-up that successfully won the overall championship in WEC and took glory at Le Mans. They’re also leading the 2023 edition with a round to go.
Hirakawa has enough points for a superlicence, too. He will remain with Toyota in the World Endurance Championship as he combines multiple categories, a common theme throughout his racing career.
It’s a spot McLaren have been looking to fill since the controversy surrounding Alex Palou began.
Ryo Hirakawa
“I’m happy to have joined the McLaren F1 Team as a reserve driver. It’s an exciting prospect to work with such a respected team and I’m grateful to Zak and Andrea for the opportunity. I’ve already met the team and experienced the simulator at MTC which has allowed me to hit the ground running. I’m now fully prepared and focused for the remainder of 2023.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to express two points of appreciation. The first one goes to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. I am grateful to them for allowing me to serve as a driver for the two teams. The second thank you goes to MORIZO-san (Akio Toyoda), who has supported me as a driver. As a driver himself, his advice was that I should drive any car that gives me the chance to develop. I therefore want to make the most of this opportunity and return the favor by showing him how I have grown.”
Photo credit: McLaren Racing
Andrea Stella
“I’m pleased to welcome Ryo to McLaren Racing as a Formula 1 reserve driver to further strengthen our growing support driver pool. We are thankful to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing for their collaboration by allowing Ryo to take on the new role alongside his driving duties. He has an impressive record on track winning Le Mans as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“We look forward to working closely with Ryo who has already spent time on the simulator at MTC. His wealth of experience will benefit the team in a number of areas as he joins our strong stable of drivers.”
