DAYTONA BEACH | After two years of competing in single seater events south of the border, Thomas Nepveu is refocusing his career on two top championships in the United States and Canada: the Porsche Carrera Cup and the NASCAR Pinty’s Series.
The Oka-born driver made the decision at the end of his run in the USF2000 development series last year, the first step fueling young drivers’ hopes of entering the IndyCar Series.
“We realized that the operating budget was far too high to have any hope of climbing the ladder that leads to the ultimate goal, the IndyCar Series. It is prohibitively expensive to drive single seaters in the United States. So we chose other, more affordable avenues with potential outlets,” Nepveu explained in an interview with the Journal de Montréal.
In his opinion, the Porsche Carrera Cup in particular offers great opportunities.
“Turnkey steering wheels, called ‘factory’, are accessible if you manage to perform well. By winning the title, you deserve to take part in a confrontation [réunissant les plus méritants] in Europe at the end of the season,” continues the 18-year-old.
A beautiful showcase
We joined Nepveu in New Orleans, where he took part in two days of private testing aboard his new European-assembled machine being prepared for him by Australian team McElrea Racing. The first two races will be held at Sebring Circuit in Florida in mid-March, a few days before the presentation of the annual 12 Hours of Sebring Classic.
The Porsche Carrera Cup, which unfortunately has no stops in Canada, is integrated into the program of prestigious events, including the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami and Austin, as well as the IndyCar Series (Long Beach) and the NASCAR Xfinity coupe (RoadAmerica ). .
“It’s a great showcase to brag about,” says the man, who took his first laps in auto racing in a kart at the age of 7. In total, participants will visit eight different venues during the 2023 season, with a doubleheader at each location. The races last 40 minutes.
A series of competitions
As for the NASCAR Pinty stock car series, Nepveu does not hide his ambitions either, even if he has to face experienced drivers who are not used to being imposed.
“I also see this as another opportunity to show off. I will finally have the chance to race in Quebec and Canada, which hasn’t happened to me in a long time. The Pinty’s series is attractive because the competition is strong. And it also provides good visibility to attract new partners,” he says.
The Canadian series includes events on oval tracks, which doesn’t seem to scare him.
“My experience on this type of track is limited to two USF2000 appearances, although I was able to get to grips with a Pinty car during a private day of testing at the Autrodrome Chaudière. [à Vallée-Jonction] last fall. That first contact was fruitful,” says Nepveu.
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Nepveu will drive a car prepared by the Jacombs team, which has won championships for Ranger (2007 and 2009) and Alex Labbé (2017). He will miss just one of the 14 stops in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series scheduled for Newfoundland (June 24) as the Porsche Carrera Cup race is held at Watkins Glen in upstate New York that same weekend.