Equipe Lapierre
The Equipe Lapierre is an academy for young drivers who are supported by the Lapierre Mathershaw Technology team in an attempt to find drivers suitable for potential future careers in Formula One. They currently have 6 drivers on their books, running teams across two championships, in addition to their Formula One Team. The team was previously named the Liverpool Junior Team, and the football club continue to sponsor the cars and drivers in the series.
Current drivers
2013 Season - Liverpool Junior Team
For the 2013 season, the team was set up, with an initial two drivers signed up to the scheme: Jamie Gerrard and Michael Wilkins. Jamie was a hotly tipped driver prior to entering the scheme, winning the 2012 British Formula Ford Championship by a large margin, and he was placed in the Liverpool Grand Prix Junior Team IJGPC squad, showing great potential, including a race win in Abu Dhabi, while being one of the front runners all season. Michael Wilkins was another graduate from the Formula Ford Series after coming 2nd to Jamie. However, there proved to be many problems for the Englishman, not fulfilling his full potential, only getting sporadic points scores. As such, he was removed from the Junior Team, but has been given a spot in the Chevrolet Le Mans squad after some testing for the TUDOR United Sportscar Series and the Daytona 24 Hours, meaning he has kept links with Liverpool engine manufacturer Chevrolet. It was announced early on that Jamie would be retained, and he is thought to be one of the best prospects for the future, and has been given the prime spot in the IJGPC for 2014.
2014 Season - Liverpool/Lapierre
Season Two of the Junior Team saw Jamie Gerrard retained, with great hopes for the Liverpudlian. He was initially joined by Alejandro Suarez, but after the second round, he fell out of favour from the management, so was removed from the championship. Lapierre Competition announced a partnership with Liverpool team owners Mathershaw Technology, which meant their star turn Didier Arnaud became a part of the Junior squad, and is poised to move up from the EJGPC to the IJGPC. In addition, their other French driver Sandrine Phillippe became the third junior, with a seat in the EJGPC. They signed their fourth and final recruit in Monegasque Lucas Tétrault after he was released by Formation Competition, and will drive the third Lapierre car from round three.
