de Vries Wins On WSK World Series debut
press release
Nyck De Vries inaugurated the new WSK World Series with a victory. On the Portimao circuit in Portugal, the Dutch driver grew more and more determined during the meeting, so much so that he brilliantly dominated the final. It was with three and ½ seconds of advance and best lap time in race that De Vries crossed the finish line as winner on his Zanardi-Parilla
Nyck De Vries started the WSK World Series just as he had finished the Euro Series: with a victory! From the highest step of the podium, the Chiesa Corse driver could only be happy about the way he conquered this success. "Already during free practice, I found myself in the lead pack, but I was not entirely satisfied, because of the gap that separated me from the race leader. There was also the difficult start in the second heat. Starting outside is really a handicap in Portimao and I lost several places that I could not regain. In addition to that, my tyres degraded too fast. I had to mount my spare tyres already in the second heat, while my rivals waited until the third. With the team, we analysed the situation and the data available and we managed to define the right set-up. I immediately felt it in the third heat, which I won. The chassis had become perfectly suited to the circuit characteristics".
Nyck was the fastest on track, but he could not repeat his performance in the pre-final. "I was once again on the outside of the front row and the drivers on my right gave me no chance to cut in. Fifth place was the best I could do. But in the final I was on the inside and I made an excellent start. I quickly reached the second place and I did the forcing to catch up on Armand Convers, the leader". After a great overtaking move made possible by his perfectly mastered late braking technique, Nyck was not worried anymore. Congratulated by some participants in the World WTCC Championship, including his compatriot Tom Coronel, who was driving in the nearby car circuit hosted in the same structure, Nyck De Vries really wanted to thank wholeheartedly his team, his partners and his family. The young driver (15), already supported by McLaren F1, took advantage of the situation to conquer the lead of the WSK World Series, a few weeks away from the Millville (New Jersey), in the United Stated.
A few comments about Nyck by Dino Chiesa (team manager)
"Nyck is an extremely talented driver, there is no doubt about it. His team and himself knew the equipment perfectly well, because they have used a Zanardi-Parilla for three years now. There is no need to talk a lot to understand each other perfectly well. In addition to that, he has great racing intelligence. He is also good at earning the respect and sympathy of the paddock with his behaviour and commitment. With all due allowance, he reminds me of Valentino Rossi. He has shown in each single race his great charisma, which is important to succeed in car sports later. And I am sure he will succeed!"
