Before the 6 Hours of Imola, we sat down with Nyck De Vries to delve into his journey in the World Endurance Championship and his expectations for the Italian race. With a smile on his face, the Dutch driver shared his insights into his WEC experience and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to compete with Toyota. Little did he know that he would later emerge as the winner of the 6h of Imola
When we met Nyck De Vries in Imola, we couldn't have predicted that by the end of the weekend, he would emerge as the winner of the 6h of Imola. Initially, there was a sense of uncertainty surrounding the weekend's outcome, attributed to the unpredictable weather and the challenge of managing traffic on the narrow circuit of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola. However, despite these challenges, Toyota Gazoo Racing, with car number 7, secured a well-deserved victory. Their triumph saw them as the protagonists of an incredible battle, first with the two Ferrari 499P and later with Kevin Estre's Porsche 963, which came really close to overtaking Kamui Kobayashi's car in the final stage of the race.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Nyck De Vries, representing his first objective of the season following his return to the WEC after his debut with Alpha Tauri in Formula 1. "I'm really enjoying my comeback to the world of endurance racing. I've always had a keen interest in the WEC, even from a young age. My first season here was in 2018, alongside my Formula 2 program" he revealed. "My favorite thing about endurance racing? The team spirit. I love competing in WEC right now because it's experiencing some sort of a golden age, with the interest of many different manufacturers elevating the level of competitiveness. I wouldn't change a thing; I like it just the way it is".
De Vries had been working with Toyota for some time, as he made his debut behind the wheel of their challenger back in 2020, when he became a reserve and test driver for the Japanese team. However, at the start of this season, some dynamics changed, with the Dutchman having to integrate into a two-driver crew that had been racing together in previous seasons. "Working with Toyota is fantastic; I'm loving every moment of it. I already knew my teammates, and they have always been my reference in this environment, teaching me a lot. Once I became a driver in car number 7, they welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to adapt and truly feel part of the group. Also, the time spent together off the track influences our relationships during the races, so it has really helped me for when I’m at the wheel, which is fundamental in endurance racing".
"Coming back here after Formula 1 didn't make me feel pressured; on the contrary, I felt privileged. I must thank Toyota for giving me the opportunity to race again with a team that boasts dominance and successes of all kinds in motorsport. I kinda feel the pressure more now because there are high expectations on us, being the team that was champion until last year. Then the level of competitiveness has increased significantly compared to previous seasons, so it's also a different WEC from the past" Nyck told us, appearing truly comfortable with the new team. It's evident from how he interacts with everyone, from how he keeps an eye on his teammates in the box to when he puts down the visor, as he demonstrated in Imola: his stint, which lasted from the second to the fourth hour of the race, saw him clocking incredible times despite the continuously changing conditions to overtake Antonio Giovinazzi's car, leading, just moments before his pit stop for the driver change.
In Imola, he was greeted by an incredible crowd: WEC in Italy is finding the right path to reach the hearts of enthusiasts, as evidenced by the 70,000 spectators recorded during the Italian weekend. "Last year I was supposed to race here with Formula 1, but unfortunately, due to the flood, the event was canceled. However, this weekend we can make up for it, and I'm thrilled to be racing in Italy where fans are 100% passionate and love motorsport in a special way. I think many will come for Valentino Rossi, who is doing very well in the championship from this point of view, but I'm happy anyway!" the Dutchman told us, who is actually particularly appreciated by Italians given his closeness to Italy through the many Italian teams he has raced with.
Despite Imola's appreciated track and its ability to accommodate many fans, it is also very treacherous for closed-wheel cars: the big enigma to solve during the Italian WEC weekend was traffic management, particularly challenging due to the narrow roadway, coupled with the ever-changing weather. "Traffic in the WEC is already a challenge in itself, even on wide circuits, so imagine here in Imola. The positive thing is that we are all in the same boat, and each team will have to do its best to avoid unpleasant situations. Moreover, Imola is a track that doesn't give you any margin for error: if you make a mistake, you're immediately in the gravel or against the wall, so we'll have to be very focused to avoid impatience prevailing"..
"At the same time, these uncertainties are the perfect ingredients for a race that will entertain the public, despite the stress for the drivers and cars! Not to mention the history that this circuit carries with itself, unfortunately also tragic, which is felt even just by looking at it from the outside. For those who are true motorsport enthusiasts, it will be an exciting weekend, for me first and foremost" Nyck continued. We also discussed with him the mental aspect of preparing for a race that objectively seems very complex, with concentration and patience at the foundation of everything: "I believe that identifying the characteristics of each race is essential to mentally prepare for the weekend: it’s the first step. Then for me, the key is patience, which must always be present, even when you're stuck behind the same car throughout an entire stint. This is what puts you in relation to risk: do I take it or wait? Is it worth risking crashing? Mental preparation goes hand in hand with physical preparation, especially for races like Imola, which are a 360-degree challenge".
Patience is the virtue of winners, or at least that's what Nyck De Vries taught us at Imola: his words translated into action when the battle for the first position with Antonio Giovinazzi began, with the Dutchman patiently waiting for the right moment to take his risk. Toyota's perfect strategy then led De Vries, Kobayashi, and Conway to victory, but when Nyck chatted with us, he wasn't so sure what to expect for the weekend: "Honestly, I don't know what we can expect from this weekend because the weather will be a bit tricky, and we don't have too many certainties. Indeed, it will probably add even more spice to the action. The goal is the Top 5, which would allow us to take home some points. In general, I always try to do my best with the tools at my disposal".
You can learn a lot about Nyck De Vries simply by observing him behind the wheel; he remains determined, confident, and straight to the point. His story in the world of motorsport tells of him in many different ways, from the little phenomenon of karts to the incredible Formula E world champion, to the big question mark placed on his shoulders once he arrived in Formula 1. "When I'm out there with the visor down, navigating the curves of any circuit, everything disappears for me. I've always had a general love for the world of motorsport" Nyck tells us. And so, as a lover of his world, he steps onto the podium of the 6 Hours of Imola, with the eyes of someone who has traversed many circuits and yet not enough because his mind is already on the next challenge.
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