Zinedine Zidane welcomes Alpine F1 to Madrid

The French football legend, Zinedine Zidane, welcomed the Alpine F1 drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, in Madrid.

As an Alpine ambassador, Zinedine Zidane draws on his decades of experience at the top level of football to share his extensive knowledge with Alpine’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, notably through Rac(H)er and the Mechanical Excellence Contest (CEMA).

Launched in July 2022, Rac(H)er aims to strengthen gender meritocracy across all areas of the company. From race drivers to engineering roles and technical positions, this initiative sets a clear and defined roadmap to increase talent diversity within Alpine.

The CEMA is a competition for aspiring mechanics organized by Alpine. Sponsored by Esteban, CEMA allows students in the automotive mechanics sector in France to showcase their skills and expertise. Divided into three stages, with theoretical and practical tests, CEMA offers its winners an internship at Alpine’s Viry-Châtillon base.

The event included an exclusive tour of Real Madrid CF’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and its museum. Zinedine Zidane significantly contributed to filling it with trophies, with five titles won as a player between 2001 and 2006, and eleven more as a coach during his two stints leading the “Blancos” between 2016 and 2021.

Zinedine Zidane, Esteban, Pierre, young Alpine drivers, and the two winners of CEMA 2023 then took a short ride through the city in an A110 to attend a go-kart demonstration. Zinedine Zidane took the wheel of an electric go-kart, receiving advice from Lisa Billard and Sukhmani Khera, two Alpine Rac(H)er drivers currently competing in international karting.

The roles completely reversed afterward, with Zinedine Zidane hosting a friendly football match between all the Alpine drivers present.

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