Permane returns to F1 with Visa Cash App RB as racing director

In the wake of its identity change, Visa Cash App RB, the team formerly known as AlphaTauri, has strengthened its organisation ahead of the 2024 F1 season with the appointment of three senior F1 technical and trackside personnel.

As anticipated, former Alpine sporting director Alan Permane, a resident of Enstone for 34 years, will take up the role of Racing Director at Faenza with immediate effect, responsible for all engineering operations at the race track.

“After a few months of downtime, it’s great to return to racing again with the Visa Cash App RB team” commented the Briton.

“From long experience, I know how professional, driven and competitive the people within this race team are and I can’t wait to see where that spirit can take the team in the future.”

Furthermore, the team has also appointed former McLaren and FIA technical director Tim Goss in the new role as Chief Technical Officer.

Goss, who will take up his duties with VCARB in October, had joined the FIA’s Single-Seater Technical Group in 2021 and became the Federation’s Technical Director in 2023 and held the role until January of this year.

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“I am delighted to join Visa Cash App RB at the start of its new era of competition,” said Goss.

“It’s a team with great pride and heritage, with some exceptional people already in place, and I’m looking forward to working with Team Principal Laurent Mekies and alongside Technical Director Jody Egginton.

“There’s an exciting challenge ahead of us but I think the team is well-equipped to meet that head on.”

Both Permane and Goss will report directly to VCARB team principal Laurent Mekies.

Finally, former Red Bull engineer Guillaume Cattelani joins the team as Deputy Technical Director, reporting to Technical Director Jody Egginton.

Cattelani will focus on Aerodynamics, Vehicle Performance, and technology, establishing car performance targets, and providing the operational leadership to achieve the team’s objectives.

“It’s fantastic to have this opportunity to take the Visa Cash App RB team to the next level of competitiveness,” said he commented.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Jody and all of the other members of the technical team to create machinery that drives the team forward and takes us towards the front of the grid.”

Commenting on his team’s appointments, Mekies highlighted the sheer amount of experience that the team’s new recruits bring to Faenza.

“The appointments of Tim, Guillaume and Alan add a vast amount of winning expertise to the Team, and I have no doubt that they will help take the team to the next level in F1,” said the VCARB team boss.

“We already have a very strong and hugely experienced group at the team and bringing onboard highly-skilled individuals like Tim, Guillaume and Alan will boost our capability and help us meet the highest technical standards at Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, both at the factory and at the track.”

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