On the World Cup Podium

Nyck De Vries and the drivers who entered the World Cup for Super KF had to face dantesque conditions in Japan, on Sunday, May 23. The Suzuka circuit was under a heavy downpour of rain and made the situation more complicated for drivers. Karts suffered in those conditions, too, and Nyck also paid his toll. But the young Dutch kartman never gave up and fought like a lion to climb on the third step of the podium of this world meeting.

Unlike many of his regular European rivals, Nyck De Vries chose to take his trip to Japan to face a pack mostly composed of Asian drivers of very good level, just as drivers such as Jarno Trulli, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Lewis Hamilton – former winners of the World Cup – had done before him. “This season, there are not many races in the Super KF category. So I thought it was important to be at this world-level event. I had already discovered the Suzuka circuit last year. I had finished second in the Junior-Yamaha race and had kept a very pleasant memory of it. It was also an opportunity for me to try the special, very soft rubber tyres“.

As soon as he started his practice, Nyck had to learn how to manage his quota of available tyres and not to wear them too quickly. “I did not drive much on Thursday and I was counting on Friday to add the finishing touches to my kart adjustments. Unfortunately, I suffered some mechanical breakages and I had to run-in the engines again. Despite all this, I felt totally confident about the official timed qualifying session, but the carburettor did not perform as usual and I had to content myself with 5th place though I was aiming for the pole position“.

In the first qualifying heat, it did not take Nyck De Vries (Zanardi-Parilla) long to climb up the standings. He finished second, with second best lap time in race. Pushed by another driver, he was only 9th in the second heat and then third in the last. Although the track remained dry on Saturday, rain kept falling on Sunday. “In the pre-final race, I made a good start from my fourth place. Then, soon water entered the engine and I lost power. I could not do anything against my team mate Oliver Rowland and I crossed the finishing line second“. In the final race, the track was even more drenched with rain.

“Driving in these conditions was not easy at all. There were many puddles and a lot of aquaplaning, even along straight stretches! Together with the team, we tried to find a way to protect the engine, but unfortunately that was not enough. Some water entered the carburettor and the engine frequently lost power. Oliver did a great job and deserves this victory, but I hoped I could keep the second place I occupied at the beginning of the race. In the end, a Japanese driver overtook me and I did everything I could to keep my third place despite pressure from another driver. I wanted to achieve a double success for Chiesa Corse, but this podium in a World Cup is still an excellent result. A big thank you to the whole team!“

( © Photo FFK )

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