Alpine starting to make 2024 plans for reserve driver Jack Doohan

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Alpine are now interested in securing a seat for reserve driver Jack Doohan in the World Endurance Championship in 2024.

A report from Motorsport.com has outlined the futures of several young drivers going into next year.

It looks as if there won’t be any opportunities for new drivers in Formula 1 next season.

The only seat that hasn’t been confirmed for next year is Logan Sargeant’s at Williams although there’s no indication yet that he’ll be moved on.

Williams have previously given the best young drivers from other teams the chance to shine towards the back of the grid.

George Russell is the best example after he spent three years with the outfit based in Grove before replacing Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes.

Promoting the best young drivers from Formula 2 into F1 is becoming more and more difficult.

It’s why Alpine are now looking for alternatives for Jack Doohan going into 2024.

The World Endurance Championship appears to be their chosen series for the young Australian.

He could be joined by Mick Schumacher who is currently Mercedes’s back-up driver but is also going to have to spend another year out of the sport.

Alpine eye WEC drive for Doohan in 2024

The report from Motorsport.com suggests the WEC programme is something Alpine is considering for Doohan.

Described as a ‘very quick’ driver by his old team boss Otmar Szafnauer, a year spent testing for Alpine might not be the best use of Doohan’s time at this stage of his career.

The grid for next season’s Formula 2 season is beginning to come together and there’s no suggestion right now that Doohan will be among that cohort.

He’s had a strong season this year against some very quick young drivers, recording two wins and two podiums.

He can’t catch current leader Theo Pourchaire but with the route to F1 becoming more and more difficult to traverse, teams are looking for alternative ways to develop their drivers.

Doohan has only ever raced in karts or junior formulas and the WEC would be a new challenge.

The current WEC line-up contains former F1 drivers including Jacques Villeneuve, Kamui Kobayashi, Sebastien Buemi and Antonio Giovanazzi.

It’s a series that can be run alongside other races which would allow Doohan to still work closely with Alpine in 2024.

His teammates would also be a lot more experienced than the drivers he’d be up against in F2.

It’ll be interesting to see where the young Aussie ends up next year.