From the slopes to the fast lane: Luc Alphand on passion, racing and sustainability

Luc's career has been an inspiring journey from the slopes of the French Alps to the high-speed world of motorsport. Known for his love of speed and adventure, Luc has transformed his passions into a successful career spanning both skiing and racing.

How did you turn your passions into your career, and what does your current role involve?

I came from the mountains in France, so naturally I was skiing first and then I discovered speed, fun and the pleasure of gliding! Gliding and speed was something I loved from a young age. When you live in a ski resort and go to ski clubs from a child, skiing is something you almost fall into. But I always knew from a young age I wanted to go racing - I enjoyed speed before I enjoyed competition or winning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting off with skiing and then moving into motorsport – both sports are all about timing, adrenaline, fear and speed.

I am the Team Principal at E.ON Next Veloce Racing. I am very hands on at the races, but I feel that my role at E.ON Next Veloce Racing is to bring the drivers the same spirit and love of speed that I have, while being a leader and having fun.

What advice would you give to young people who are struggling to identify their true passions?

My advice is to believe. Believe in what can happen to you. If you have a passion for something (anything at all), it will get harder and harder to reach your goals. Plus, the higher level you achieve, so will your need for passion and a good work ethic. It is a lot of work to accomplish a certain level, and even to win. And obviously, if you participate in any type of sport, there is always only one winner. So, you need to keep believing and you need to prepare yourself that it won’t be easy – but keep telling yourself that everything is possible.

Can you share an experience where following your passions led to both success and challenges? How did you navigate those challenges?

It took me more than 10 years to get my first race in the Skiing World Cup – which means 10 years of frustration, pain, injuries and surgeries. It was a huge challenge to keep motivated and focus on the main goal. You need good resources, plenty of support and to believe in what you can do – that’s the main challenge. You have to navigate everything in-between the lows and hard challenges. It is a long journey!

In a rapidly changing world, how can young people stay adaptable while still following their passions?

I believe in humankind - that we are always able to navigate through the centuries and I am pretty confident that we will find a solution on how to heal the world. The new generation must be aware of what we are facing and that we need to be able to adapt. What we have done in the last 100 years was not the right way, so we need to find another way.

We need to be smart and find a way to make things better and cleaner. I think being aware of our surroundings is the most important aspect and finding the path to success through this is very possible.

How do you feel about working for E.ON Next Veloce Racing – what makes it special?

E.ON Next Veloce Racing is a great place to work and we are performing very well!  

Everything we do comes from the E.ON Next Veloce Racing Management Team. Although we are a small team, we have big passion to start projects, and we are on the top of our game. I am so happy with the team, and I try to bring a very positive impact, so if we have frustrations, we work through them together and bring out the best victories. We really are a positive and switched on group of people and that makes a great team!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do you believe green jobs are essential for the future of our economy and environment?

I think they’re very important because we need the planet to change, and we need to start somewhere and somehow. We are the ones in the moment, right now, to make a change. We must have a close look on what natural resources we can use and roll these out across the world. We are at a very key moment – and we need more and more green jobs as they are so important for our future on planet Earth.

How can we encourage more young people to pursue careers in sustainability and green industries?

It’s great to say that people are already looking at green jobs and sustainability. More than ever, we are more aware of what is happening to the climate. I personally love to research and understand how sustainability and green jobs work. We must keep educating people and we must move quickly with how the world is looking on a day-to-day basis. I really do believe it all comes down to education and showcasing that green jobs are available.

Driving excellence and sustainability: A partnership for the future

At E.ON, we’re proud to work with leaders like Luc, who not only drive excellence in racing, but also advocate for sustainability and the importance of green jobs. E.ON Next Veloce Racing’s passion and dedication resonate deeply with our values and we look forward to continuing this exciting journey together, pushing the boundaries of innovation and making a positive impact for future generations.