McLaren in trials with its young drivers in Barcelona

The 29-year-old Japanese pilot, Ryo Hirakawa, was able to take part in a McLaren F1 rolling this Thursday, October 12, on the Barcelona circuit. He has been part of the McLaren Academy drivers program since last month. He was replaced this Friday by Indycar driver Patricio (Pato) O’ward.

McLaren went out on the road for two days with its drivers from the young drivers’ academy. The tests took place on the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona, which hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix, at the wheel of a 2021 McLaren, the MCL35M.

Ryo Hirakawa is an endurance driver for Gazoo Toyota Racing. He was announced as reserve driver for McLaren for 2024 but had not yet driven in Formula 1. So it is now done for the Japanese driver who finished 2nd in the 24h of Le Mans 2023, teaming up with Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley, two former F1 drivers.

Zak Brown had staked this F1 test for Pato O’Ward on the condition that the Mexican win a race in Indycar with Arrow McLaren. He then won the Texas 2021 race and was offered a roll-out at the end of 2021 in Abu Dhabi. Since then, he is part of the McLaren academy drivers program. He is 24 years old and is currently 4th in the Indycar championship with 1 pole position to his credit but no wins this season.