FIA WEC: Nyck de Vries joins Toyota as test- and reserve driver

Text: Rick Kiewiet

Images: Toyota Motorsport GmbH, Rick Kiewiet

The star of Nyck de Vries is quickly rising. The young Dutchman graduates from LMP2 to LMP1 after 10 races for Racing Team Nederland (1 win, 1 pole) and joins Toyota as test- and reserve driver from now on.

The 25-year old earned his new job with an outstanding performance in the TS050 during the WEC-rookie test last December. In words of Toyota he "displayed maturity, intelligence and team spirit".

De Vries especially stood out in the FIA Formula 2 championship where he is the reigning champion. He scored 8 race wins and over 500 points between 2017 and 2019. It was rumoured that the former McLaren F1 Junior had to battle for the McLaren F1 race seat with Lando Norris over the 2018 season, whoever finished first got the seat. That season he finished 4th, only 17 points behind Norris who became vice-champion. A year later, De Vries won the championship with a 52-points lead after 12 rounds.

Besides WEC, De Vries also competes in the FIA Formula E championship for Mercedes. In his first five race he already took one 5th and one 6th place finish.