Racing towards success: The power of teamwork in Le Mans
In the high-stakes world of motorsport, few races embody the spirit of endurance and collaboration like the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, as Nyck de Vries, Dutch racing driver and global brand ambassador for Omnes Capital, knows only too well. In a recent interview with Omnes’ CEO, Serge Savasta, de Vries reflected on his 2024 Le Mans race – where he drove a hybrid car – looking at the important role teamwork plays, both on and off the track. Read on for an excerpt of their conversation on resilience, strategy, and their shared drive to succeed.
Serge Savasta – “You faced a real challenge in Le Mans – starting 23rd, the last car in the hypercar category, when you could have been in pole position. How did you approach the race in view of such a setback, given your desire to win?”
Nyck de Vries – Le Mans surprised me. The risk has shifted to the end of the race; the key is to be in the best condition on Sunday morning, when you’ve driven through the night, and need to be at your very best. So much can happen in the first 12 hours, you just need to be patient and stay in the race. All the rain this year made it even more important to be patient. There was no need to stress about the fact we started last because we had 24 hours to make up for it. What’s more, the cars regroup with the safety car, so it’s almost like starting out in a new race. Because of the weather, the key to this race was to stay competitive with an undamaged car to be able to perform when it mattered towards the end of the race. When there are just four hours left, it’s all about performance. My approach was to stay calm, keep the car in one piece, and avoid mistakes.
Serge Savasta – “And that strategy paid off with a remarkable 2nd place finish! Bittersweet, but still incredible.”
Nyck De Vries – Yes, after 24 hours and 10 different weather conditions, it was natural to feel mixed emotions. We came to win, but that’s what makes teamwork so essential.
Serge Savasta – “Speaking of teamwork, you came from F1 and now drive for Toyota with experienced teammates including Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway. How do you navigate working with such established drivers?”
Nyck De Vries – The key is to realize that it’s not about me, it’s about the team. It is an honor to work with Kamui and Mike, who are such established drivers, and I’m learning a lot from them. They have won Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship together, as well as winning podiums in IndyCar and F1. They have achieved so much, it’s humbling. But that’s why teamwork matters so much in endurance racing. It’s about sharing the journey – successes, challenges, everything. When we work together, the result is always greater than anything we could accomplish alone. That’s the beauty of teamwork: you never win alone.
Learn more about Nyck’s ambassadorship with Omnes here.
First published in Scope Fall 2024