The former Red Bull Formula 1 driver will make his debut in the series this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, in the second seat of the part-time team Team Hezeberg .
The current plan is for Daniil Kvyat to race the three remaining road courses on the 2022 championship schedule: Indy on August 21 at Watkins Glen, New York, and the Roval in Charlotte on October 9.
“I want to put a lot of importance on NASCAR now to give myself the best opportunity to be very competitive,” he told Motorsport.com on Tuesday. “I wanted to start with something really good after my Formula 1 career.”
“After Formula 1, there could be nothing better than NASCAR, that’s for sure,” said the Russian.
In February, Kvyat signed for G-Drive Racing in the World Endurance Championship to make his motorsport debut, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans , but the team withdrew after the FIA established measures for Russian competitors after the invasion of Ukraine , which sidelined him until now in 2022.
In the few weeks that Kvyat, 28, has been in the United States, he has fully immersed himself in NASCAR culture.
He’s lapped a Late Model car at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway with the help of driver-owner Josh Reaume , visited the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord to get his approval to race, and spent time collecting and delivering parts in the Mooresville area as his team assembled the #27 Toyota he will compete in.
“NASCAR Cup Series has a very rich history and is extremely popular in the United States and also around the world,” he said. “I think he’s managed to maintain such a good balance between modern racing and old school racing.”
“I was very curious to try it, it’s a very tough race, there are strong guys who compete at a very high level. I’ve been trying for a few years and I’ve finally had a chance here,” he explained.
Kvyat, a native of Ufa (Russia), made his Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso at the start of the 2014 season, aged 19. After a successful debut, he was promoted to Red Bull for the following campaign.
His first podium finish came at the 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix, making him the second-youngest driver to score a podium finish, aged 21. He continued in the Red Bull driver program until 2020, ending his F1 career at Alpine as a reserve driver in 2021.
Kvyat said he’s not just “testing the tide” of NASCAR racing, but instead plans to do whatever it takes to compete in the series full time.
“Whatever I do, I try to do it with maximum competitive focus,” he said. “I am a competitive person, and I want to achieve important results here.”
“I’m open to racing on the ovals and trying to make this transition. I really want to race to get the best results and one day fight for the championship,” he continued.
The Russian said he had seen enough quotes from NASCAR, whether in person or on television or in YouTube videos, to know how complex it can be, particularly for newcomers.
“I’ve always been a big fan of contact racing,” he said. “I’ve never had a problem getting my elbows out, and I don’t think I’ll have a problem with that in NASCAR. I’m used to it, I enjoy it.”
Although Kvyat said he would “never say never” to a return to Formula 1, he believes that at this stage of his career he is “pretty focused” on NASCAR.
“I think there are a lot of good things I can do here if I focus on it,” he said. “Of course, I may have other opportunities in Formula 1, I’m open to discussion, but right now I’m making my NASCAR debut, and I’m giving it my all right now.”
Kvyat will get the chance to race another former Formula 1 star at Watkins Glen when 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen makes his debut.
The Finn will drive for Trackhouse Racing as part of its Project 91 initiative, which is designed to attract top international stars to NASCAR.
“My old, old friend,” Kvyat said with a laugh. “I know Kimi from Formula 1, obviously. He’s an interesting character. I’m pretty excited that we’re both sharing the grid in NASCAR.”
“I think it’s great that NASCAR is getting more and more involved on an international level. With old Formula 1 names, it just shows how competitive this championship is becoming. He’s a clean and very strong driver, it’s going to be great to see him again.” new there,” he concluded.
