De Vries set for two-race Super Formula stint in Japan

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Former F1 driver and 2021 Formula E world champion Nyck de Vries is set to compete in two rounds of Japan’s competitive Super Formula series with Team Impul.

De Vries, who lost his drive with AlphaTauri last year in F1 after ten races, rebounded in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo while also racing for Mahindra in Formula E.

The 29-year-old’s Toyota connection has landed him a chance to showcase his skills in Super Formula, the Dutchman racing with Team Impul at Motegi later this month and then again at Fuji in October.

De Vries' inclusion is a major boost for Super Formula, which has struggled to attract international talent in recent years.

Read also: Pourchaire back in the saddle in Toronto with Arrow McLaren!

The series has been dominated by Japanese drivers, with Theo Pourchaire the only foreign entrant at the start of the season. The Frenchman's departure for IndyCar left Super Formula without any non-Japanese drivers.

De Vries’ impressive resume, which includes his titles in Formula 2 and Formula E, makes him a high-profile addition to the grid.

Drivers battling it out in a round of the Super Formula series (©Super Formula).

Despite a short-lived Formula 1 career, the Toyota WEC charger remains a highly regarded driver.

Although he finished a lowly 18th with Mahindra in this year’s FE standings, de Vries claimed a win in the second round of the WEC at Imola back in April alongside his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway.

He also finished second at Le Mans this year with the Japanese manufacturer.

De Vries' Super Formula stint will offers him the opportunity to showcase his skills in a different racing environment and potentially reignite his single-seater career.

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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.