Juri Vips is again for one more showcase of his expertise with Rahal Letterman Lanigan that would result in a race seat alternative in 2025. The Estonian made his debut for RLL at Portland in 2023 and can get one other run with the workforce’s No. 75 Honda when the NTT IndyCar Sequence returns to the Oregon highway course on Aug. 25.
RLL employed Vips after his spectacular outings at Portland and the next race in Monterey final yr, and together with his work for the workforce behind the scenes, he’s grow to be a favourite inside the program because it seems to be to fill no less than one upcoming emptiness when Christian Lundgaard departs for Arrow McLaren.
“We’re happy to have the ability to run Juri in Portland for a variety of causes,” mentioned RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal. “For one, he confirmed at each Portland and Laguna Seca final yr that he definitely has the tempo to function in any occasion he runs with us. He has achieved a whole lot of work for us within the simulator this yr, which has helped us perceive the hybrid system, so it’s good to reward him for his effort. I’m hopeful that it will result in extra races for him with RLL.”
Vips certified seventh at Laguna Seca, which demonstrated his fast progress in a brand new automotive at a brand new observe. Returning to a well-known circuit like Portland ought to permit Vips — who turns 24 on Saturday — an opportunity to bolster his place inside RLL.
“I’m very grateful to the workforce for giving me this chance,” Vips mentioned. “I’ve been working intently with the workforce on the simulator program and it has been a yr since I’ve been within the automotive, however I’m assured that the expertise gained final yr at Portland and Laguna Seca will assist me to stand up to hurry shortly. It would nonetheless be a really huge problem and one I’m very a lot wanting ahead to.”
