Kvyat set for NASCAR Cup debut at Indianapolis

©Twitter/DaniilKvyat

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Daniil Kvyat will return to active-duty next weekend, the former Red Bull driver making his NASCAR Cup debut with Team Hezeberg on Indianapolis' road course.

Kvyat has signed up for three races with Team Hezeberg, the Dutch outfit set up by touring car legend Toine Hezemans and partner Ernst Berg and that ran Jacques Villeneuve in the Daytona 500 earlier this year.

Loris Hezemans will take over the #27 Ford Mustang while Kvyat will be at the wheel of the team's #26 machine for next weekend's Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.

Kvyat's future outings with the team will be at Watkins Glen on August 21 and at the Charlotte Motor Speedway's road course on October 9.

Read also: Villeneuve sees checkered flag in first Daytona 500

"I’m very happy to be able to make my NASCAR Cup Series debut at Indianapolis," commented Kvyat.

"I have always been passionate about racing in NASCAR, the top form of motorsport in the United States. NASCAR has always been intriguing to me, as it is a pure form of motorsport to me.

"I’m looking forward to being successful in this form of motorsport and I hope to contend for wins and championships in the future.

"I can’t thank NASCAR, Josh Reaume, Toine Hezemans, Ernst Berg, and everybody at Team Hezeberg enough for the opportunity.

"The guys at the shop have been working tirelessly to prepare machine and myself for this experience.

"It will be my first time at Indianapolis, and I am looking forward to seeing it in person. From what I have seen on video, Indianapolis is a challenging circuit, but I’m looking forward to that challenge, along with competing in the NASCAR Cup Series."

Kvyat, a veteran of 110 Grands Prix starts, last raced in Formula 1 in 2020 with AlphaTauri. Last year the Russian acted as the Alpine team's reserve driver.

Kvyat was due to take part in this year's World Endurance Championship with Russian LMP2 outfit G-Drive.

However, G-Drive team boss and driver Roman Rusinoff refused to sign the FIA 'Driver Commitment' pledge that was mandated by the governing body in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The team was there forbidden its entry into the WEC.

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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.