De Vries set for WEC return in 2024 with Toyota squad

Nyck de Vries who was ousted from the AlphaTauri F1 team earlier this summer is reportedly likely to enjoy in 32024 a full-time programme in the WEC with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

De Vries was initially earmarked by the Japanese manufacturer to race for its Hypercar team in 2023, having fulfilled a reserve role with Toyota in 2022.

But F1 took precedence when Red Bull offered the Dutchman a seat with AlphaTauri.

It's unclear who de Vries will replace in the Toyota squad next season, but it is believed that the 28-year-old will replace Jose Maria Lopez in the #7 car also shared by Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway.

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According to a report from Motorsport.com, Toyota team director Rob Leupen gave no indication in Fuji earlier this month that there would be any changes to the team's driver line-ups, or that de Vries was incoming.

"I’m always in contact with Nyck because we are both Dutch!" Leupen said, tongue-in-cheek. "I think Nyck has a lot of opportunities, he has also done some good testing for us [in the past].

"We are also in a good situation with our [current] driver line-up. I think our current driver line-up is superb. From that point of view, I would say there is no issue."

As for Lopez, the 40-year-old veteran could not offer any clarity on his future with Toyota.

"I would like to stay with the team, but I'm not 20 any more. We'll have to see. It's not decided," he said.

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