Hirakawa won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 alongside Sebastien Buemi and Brendon 𝄹Hartley.

Next year he will combine duties for McLaren with his current role with Toyota, for whom he leads the Hyperclass class in the World Endurance Championship current🦋ly.

Hirakawa will conduct simulator and testing duties with the 2021 MCL35M as part of McLꦐaren’s driver development programme.

He also dro🥀ve in the Japan-based Supeꦍr Formula series.

INDYCAR options fell through

Alex Palou, the two-time INDYCAR cha🐠mpion, recently saw a deal to join McLaren fall apart.

So he can no longer be relied ꦇupon to act as an F1 reserve driver in 2024.

Pato O♊'Ward 🤡could instead be added to McLaren’s options if he receives a superlicence.

They also have access to Mick Schumacher, who is🌠 Mercedes’ third driver.

McLaren also struck a deal with Aston Martin to share Stoffel Vandoorne and Felipe 𒁃Drugovich as reserve drivers for the first 15 rounds of this year so♌ could revisit a similar arrangement in 2024.