After dominating the prestigious Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup this year, his third year in the series, McLaren junior driver Nyck de Vries has announced he will make the step up to the Formula Renault 3.5 series with the champion DAMS team for next year.
The very talented young Dutchman will join the DAMS team for the first post-season test at Jerez which starts today. The move up to the Renault 3.5 series was a logical step for De Vries, who received 500 000 Euros from Renault to help with the move up to the 3.5 series. He also joins a long line of Eurocup winners who graduate to the main series, including recently Robin Frijns and Stoffel Vandoorne.
De Vries will carry some expectation with him because of the sterling efforts of previous Eurocup winners in their rookie year of the 3.5 series with Frijns winning the title whilst Vandoorne and 2014 rookie Pierre Gasly both finished 2nd in their debut year. The fact he's joined DAMS, winners of the 2013 and 2014 titles, also ramps up the pressure slightly on De Vries to impress next year.
By announcing the deal early he's put himself in the best position to integrate himself with the team and learn the car over the winter before the season starts next year. Do not be surprised at all if he impresses immediately next year, he more than talented enough to do so in his rookie campaign. A definite name to watch.
