Voeckler Grand Prix Engineering
| File:Alstom GPE Logo.png | |
| Full Name | Alstom Grand Prix Engineering |
| Base | Levallois-Perret, Paris, France |
| Founder(s) | Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler |
| Team Principal(s) | Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler |
| Technical Director | Xavier Mestelan-Pinon |
Alstom Grand Prix Engineering, often shortened to Alstom GPE or Alstom, was a racing team owned by former Formula One driver Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler based in Paris, France. Founded midway through 2001 to compete in the Prost GP Series, it achieved considerable success during its small lifespan, merging with Italian racing conglomerate Il Barone Rampante at the end of the same year.
Prost GP
Alstom GPE was founded approximately a third of the way through the 2001 Prost GP season to provide team owner Jérémy-Étienne's younger brother Frédéric-Maxime Voeckler a drive in the series. Frédéric-Maxime came in to the series having most recently driven in the F1RGP2C series with mixed results.
Despite the seemingly slap-dash formation of the team, F-M Voeckler was surprisingly competitive from the outset, regularly scoring podiums straight away. His consistency saw him climb above several full-time drivers very quickly, which eventually culiminated in his first series victory in Japan.
At Round 12 in Germany, Alstom expanded to a two car operation, with team principal Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler stepping into the #4 car. The extra points scored by the team principal helped Alstom to climb the Teams' Championship standings quickly.
While others around them in the championship faltered, Alstom surged ahead with consistent points finishes, especially from lead driver Frédéric-Maxime Voeckler who regularly finished on the podium throughout the campaign. The younger Voeckler snatched the lead of the Drivers Championship at the penultimate round, and a steady second place finish at the finale in Belgium secured the title at his first attempt.
Frédéric-Maxime Voeckler's outstanding performance in the drivers championship, matched with sporadic points finishes by team principal Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler was enough for Alstom to clinch the Teams' Championship at the same time, ensuring that in Prost GP's brief history, Alstom GPE would have a 100% record for titles won.
Merger with IBR
At the end of 2001, it was announced the Prost GP management would be moving their franchise to America, taking over the open-wheel CART series from 2002 onwards. With little experience in American racing, Alstom GPE initiated a merger with former works Chevrolet constructor Il Barone Rampante. The newly formed team was named Alstom IBR, with Jérémy-Étienne Voeckler becoming team co-principal alongside Alessandro Linari. Both he and Frédéric-Maxime would remain as drivers for the newly merged outfit.
