Nyck de Vries made official at Toyota in WEC

Nyck de Vries et Toyota, it is the story of a marriage whose materialization we ended up doubting, but which will therefore take place in 2024. While he had signed a pre-commitment with the Japanese manufacturer for the 2023 season, the Dutch had asked to get out of his contract in order to realize his dream: to access the Formula 1. Blown away by his performances at Monza in 2022 where he took 9th place at the wheel of a Williams, Alpha Tauri ended up offering him what he had been waiting for for a long time, namely a starting position in F1. The parenthesis, however, quickly became disenchanted when he was replaced after only 10 Grands Prix by Daniel Ricciardo.

Despite everything, Nyck retained an excellent reputation and his image as an extremely hardworking boy which he left in the paddock of theEndurance pushed the various manufacturers to consider it for 2024. But it was Toyota which won the day. The Japanese brand was not resentful and therefore agreed to take back a driver who had given it a little blow from Trafalgar last year. But it was obviously understandable. Then, it was not to go to the competition, but to fulfill a dream.

Pechito out, De Vries in

2023 world champion, Toyota hopes to retain its crown next year, despite the arrival of new manufacturers. Thus, the Cologne-based brand has decided to renew its confidence in its titled trio this season, namely Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa. It is on car number 7 that the only change is made. Jose Maria Lopez, present within the team since 2017, will therefore leave his place to Nyck de Vries, while remaining a reserve for the team and entering GT3 with Akkodis ASP. The Batavian will therefore share the duty with Mike conway et Kamui Kobayashi.

“I am very excited to return to endurance racing, especially with Toyota, explained Nyck. I have always loved endurance and it is a discipline that is on the rise at the moment. I was with the team in a different role for a few years (he was a development driver) but never got the chance to race, so it's great that the time is right, and I'd like to to thank the team for their continued support and the trust they have placed in me. I can't wait to share the #7 car with Mike and Kamui. They are both very talented drivers who have accomplished a lot, and I am sure we will make a great team.” 

However, there remains the thorny question of date clashes between the WEC and Formula E, since Nyck de Vries is also engaged in the electric championship with Mahindra. Will the Indian team let its driver join Toyota, particularly for the 6 Hours of Spa which takes place at the same time as the Berlin E-Prix? Or will Toyota run either with two drivers in the No. 7, or with one of its reserves (Lopez, Miyata) in Belgium?

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