Ricciardo: Earnhardt demo ride at COTA 'a dream come true'

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Daniel Ricciardo says that getting behind the wheel of the late Dale Earnhardt's Chevrolet Monte Carlo at COTA this week will be a "a dream come true" moment.

Ricciardo will run some demo laps onboard his childhood hero's 1984 Nascar charger at Austin ahead of next weekend's US Grand Prix, a prize promised and donated by the famous car's owner - McLaren boss Zak Brown – following the Aussie's remarkable win last month at Monza.

Ricciardo thus heads to Austin with a double-dose of excitement to look forward to: a stint onboard the Chevy and the 17th round of the 2021 F1 World Championship.

"I’ll be getting behind the wheel of Dale Earnhardt Sr’s 1984 Wrangler Chevrolet Monte Carlo," said the McLaren driver in his team's US Grand Prix preview.

"He’s a big hero of mine, so to be able to drive one of his cars is going to be a surreal moment and a bit of a dream come true.

"A big thanks to Zak for keeping his end of the deal and making this happen. I can’t wait!"

However, as excited as he may be, Ricciardo's main focus is on next weekend's race at the Circuit of the Americas where the 32-year-old aims to return among the top-ten after a lackluster performance in Turkey.

Read also: Ricciardo won't let frustrating Turkish GP impact 'momentum'

"COTA is arguably one of the best tracks we get to race on," commented Ricciardo.

"We need to make up for missing out on being there last year, so we’ll be working hard for a good result.

"We’ve taken the time between races to analyse, understand and learn from what happened last time out.

"We’re ready to move on and focus on the challenge of this weekend.

"I think some sections of the track will suit us, so we should be in the mix for some points come Sunday."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.