Home Featured PaddockScout Awards 2014: Weekend Performance of the Year

PaddockScout Awards 2014: Weekend Performance of the Year

by Formula Scout

AUTO - WSR PAUL RICARD 2014

Nyck de Vries

Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Circuit Paul Ricard

The Eurocup’s weekend format does not lend itself very well to double victories. With the huge grid split in two groups for qualifying, the order in which they take to the track is changed from Saturday to Sunday. As the latter group is almost always faster due to track evolution, two poles and, hence, two wins are a tough ask.

Yet, if there was one Eurocup driver capable of pulling that off in 2014, it was the ever-dominant Nyck de Vries. Upon reflection, the Dutchman was simply too good for a third year in Formula Renault 2.0, although his handlers at McLaren were clearly forced into the decision by a really tough beginning to his 2013 season.

By the time he showed up at Paul Ricard for the penultimate round of the Eurocup season, he had already been crowned Alps champion. And his 46-point lead over nearest rival Dennis Olsen meant that he was quite likely to clinch a second title in France.

After the first qualifying, the ?likely? turned into the ?inevitable?. De Vries was quickest in his group by half a second and, despite the fact his Group A was out on track earlier, those in the other session didn’t even come close to stealing pole.

In the Saturday race, he pulled away from the field lap after lap, eventually finishing 11 seconds in the clear.

The next morning, his group was second on track and de Vries had little trouble wrapping up another pole position.

He then blasted off from first on the grid to lead again and, after the Sunday race was interrupted by a red flag, de Vries nailed the restart and was promptly in a league of his own, building up his advantage to nine seconds at the flag.

Paul Ricard’s not on the 2015 WSR calendar, which probably doesn’t please de Vries or his new team DAMS. But, then again, in 2014 the Dutchman was good virtually everywhere. It’s just that, at Paul Ricard, he was unbelievable.

Valentin Khorounzhiy

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