Irishman Alex Dunne has taken his next step up the ladder, with the first piece in his 2025 plan confirmed on Friday afternoon.
19-year-old Dunne starred in his maiden Formula 3 season with MP Motorsport in 2024 and earned himself a spot on the presitigious McLaren F1 academy.
Motorsport giants McLaren have branched out from Formula 1 in recent years, establishing a highly competitive outfit in IndyCar and buying out Mercedes' Formula E operation.
The British marque announced on Friday that Alex Dunne will fill the role of reserve and development driver with their Formula E team for the 2024-25 season.
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McLaren promote Alex Dunne to Formula E reserve role
McLaren Formula E team released a statement on Friday confirming that Offaly native Alex Dunne will serve as reserve and development driver for the remainder of the ongoing season.
Alex Dunne announced as our official Reserve and Development Driver for Season 11.
Read more on the story🔗— NEOM McLaren FE (@McLarenFE) January 10, 2025
The 2022 British F4 champion will work with the team in Bicester and Woking preparing for race weekends, and will serve as a reserve for race drivers Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard.
"I’m excited to be joining the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team as Reserve and Development Driver," said Dunne.
"Working with NEOM McLaren as part of my experience in the McLaren Driver Development programme is an excellent opportunity to hone my skills. I'm looking forward to doing what I can to support the team and learn as much as possible."
McLaren have steadily grown in stature in Formula E since making their debut in the all-electric single seater series in 2023 and took their maiden race win at last year's Sao Paulo ePrix.
They currently sit top of the constructors' standings after the opening round of the 2024-25 season, which saw Barnard and Bird finish P3 and P4 respectively.
It is the latest step on the road to Formula 1 for Clonbullogue's Dunne, who starred in his maiden F3 campaign last year.
Competing for MP Motorsport, Dunne claimed two podiums at the Spanish and Italian rounds, ultimately finishing a solid 14th in the standings.
It appears as though more is to come for Alex Dunne in 2025, with McLaren's announcement stating that his full race schedule will be announced in due course. The Formula E reserve role, therefore, will not be his only commitment, and fans will hope that the Irishman may see a promotion to a Formula 2 seat for the year ahead.
Wherever he ends up racing in 2025, the future looks bright for one of Irish motorsport's most exciting prospects of recent years.
