Alpine accelerates equality: Formula 1 brand with new film about female race car driver

The French sports car brand Alpine – best known for its achievements in motorsport and models like the A110 – is now taking an unconventional gear shift. With the feature film “Rapide,” the manufacturer focuses on gender equality in motorsport.

The film, premiering in French cinemas on April 16, 2025, follows the 17-year-old girl Julia, who dreams of breaking through as a race car driver in a male-dominated world. “Rapide” is directed by Morgan S. Dalibert and stars Paola Locatelli in the lead role, alongside actors like Alban Lenoir and Anne Marivin.

The film utilizes genuine Alpine racing machinery, including both a Formula 1 racer and the iconic A110 model. Alpine contributes not only equipment but also expertise from their motorsport department and equality programs.

“Rapide” distinguishes itself from classic motorsport films by highlighting the structural challenges young women face in the world of motorsport. The story is based on realistic themes such as prejudice, social resistance, and the need for role models, illustrating the barriers women continue to fight against in an otherwise elite sports world.

Alpine’s involvement in “Rapide” is a continuation of the brand’s strategy to use popular culture as a mouthpiece for values such as inclusion and diversity. Their cars have previously appeared on screen – most recently in “Largo Winch 3” – but in “Rapide,” the brand is a central driving force both in front of and behind the camera.

Alpine, now part of the Renault Group, has in recent years worked determinedly on rebranding as a modern performance brand. According to the press release, the film’s message is intended to inspire a new generation of diverse talents to the world of motorsport.

The film arrives at a time when both Formula 1 and other motorsports are under pressure to create more equality – and Alpine appears ready to take pole position on that front.

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