Alpine Esports has today (28th February 2023) revealed its driver roster for the 2023 F1 Esports Series Pro, as well as a host of brand partners.
The three-driver lineup has a youthful look to it this season, with Luke Smith – the youngest competitor in the 2022 F1 Esports Series Pro – returning alongside Alpine Esports stalwart Patrik Sipos.
Outgoing Filip Presnajder will be replaced by former Race Clutch academy driver Rubén Pedreño, who at 16 years old will be the youngest driver on the grid. The Spaniard will also be supported by Alpine through the feeder F1 Esports Challenger Series in 2023, as he aims to earn his full F1 Esports Pro License.
“Patrik has been there with us since day one. He joined the Alpine F1 team in 2021, and last year was only his first full season [and] he did very well. This year was a learning year for him so 2023 [will] be the year where he can unleash his full potential now [he] also has the experience,” said Richard Arnaud, President of Race Clutch, the partner organisation of Alpine Esports.
Although Alpine has a comparatively inexperienced team, Arnaud has high hopes, especially for its rookie driver Rubén Pedreño:
“And so we’re looking to maybe for him [to achieve] title of rookie of the year. Definitely Ruben will be an interesting talent to develop and I’m looking forward to see him doing his first races,” he commented.
The team is hoping to improve upon its ninth-place finish in the 2022 championship, aiming for podiums in 2023 and a top-five finish in the standings.
Alpine has also revealed a slew of partners for 2023, with the esports team’s kit provided by Kappa, the official apparel supplier for the BWT Alpine F1 Team. Alpine will also be focusing on its social media presence too, thanks to its Alpine Esports Content Room at the team’s HQ in Enstone, provided in collaboration with Alpine’s blockchain sponsor QAN.
Filled with sim racing equipment from partners Trak Racer, Elgato and BenQ, the Content Room is a base from which Alpine’s streamers and drivers can release content. PattyPatt, AnaonAir and Thomb have all been confirmed as working in ambassadorial roles with the team throughout 2023.
Alpine Esports has also teamed up with gaming charity Special Effect, raising awareness of the plight of physically disabled gamers and how gaming can become more accessible through technological innovations. Funds will also be raised throughout 2023 via charitable streams and promotions.
“I’m proud of the incredible growth Alpine Esports has seen throughout the past year and aim to make 2023 even bigger and better. We’re especially excited to work alongside an incredible charity like Special Effect to bring joy and gaming into the lives of as many people as possible,” said Guillaume Vergnas, Head of Esports, Gaming & Web3 at Alpine.
“We give our absolute thanks to our fans and community who have allowed us to grow our brand, create new innovations, and bring together a talented team of drivers, ambassadors, and partners with the shared goal of elevating sim racing to the next level,” he continued.
Alpine Esports will also enjoy patronage from tech brands Varjo and Tobii, improving the VR and eye-tracking experience for the team’s sim racers. Mobile game developer The Tiny Digital Factory also joins the team in 2023, with Alpine cars set to appear in both its GT Manager and Infinite Drive mobile titles.
What do you think about Alpine’s F1 Esports Series Pro lineup? Let us know in the comments below. Also, listen to our latest podcast episode where we spoke to Alpine representatives about its big sim racing investment.
Alpine Esports F1 Esports Series Pro 2023 lineup
- Patrik Sipos
- Luke Smith
- Rubén Pedreño
