Ryo Hirakawa has parted ways with Alpine three months after becoming their test and reserve driver and joined Haas in the same role.

The two-times World Endurance Champion and Le Mans 24 Hours winner made a single outing in practice for Alpine at Suzuka last weekend. He will drive for Haas in four practice sessions over the remainder of this year.

Hirakawa drives for Toyota’s WEC team. The Japanese manufacturer has a technical collaboration agreement with Haas which gives them opportunities to run their junior drivers in the F1 team’s cars.

The driver, who turns 31 today, will make his first appearance for Haas in first practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, taking over Oliver Bearman’s car. He will return at the Spanish Grand Prix, driving Esteban Ocon’s VF-25.

Haas will use Hirakawa to complete their four practice session runs for junior drivers which are required by the rules. He will drive Bearman’s car again in Mexico and Ocon’s at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Hirakawa previously sampled a Haas F1 car in the post-season test at Yas Marina last year. He also drove for McLaren in first practice at the grand prix.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said Hirakawa’s experience will help the team “bolster our knowledge and understanding of the VF-25.”

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“His feedback was very detailed at the post-season test last year, so being able to provide Ryo valuable track time across four different circuits this year will help the entire team,” said Komatsu. “As part of our collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing, it’s great to welcome new talent into the team – it’s a real pleasure to work with a racer of his driving acumen.”

Alpine announced Hirakawa as a test and reserve driver earlier this year and arranged for him to drive Jack Doohan’s car in first practice at Suzuka last weekend. He set the 12th fastest time, a tenth of a second ahead of the team’s regular driver, Pierre Gasly.

Hirakawa’s departure from Alpine leaves the team with three reserve drivers: Franco Colapinto, Paul Aron and Kush Maini.

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