Despite coming close to securing an IndyCar drive for 2024, Yuri Vips didn’t quite impress enough to find a full-time gig with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing last season.
But he finds himself with another chance, nearly a year on from being handed his first opportunity in IndyCar.
In the final two races of 2023, Vips managed an 18th-placed finish followed by 24th at the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, seeing a seat at RLL slip through his hands and handed to Pietro Fittipaldi instead.
The Brazilian driver has struggled throughout much of 2024, which may have opened the door for the 24-year-old to reignite his racing career and push for a seat next season when Vips returns to drive the number 75 entry at the Grand Prix of Portland.
Yuri Vips shares gratitude for second IndyCar chance at RLL
Vips is an ex-Red Bull academy driver, however, he was dropped from their line-up in 2022.
He completed the Formula 2 season that year with Hitech despite losing his Red Bull backing, finishing 11th in the championship before turning his attention to IndyCar the year after.
Private tests led to him replacing Jack Harvey for the final two rounds of the 2023 IndyCar season, but despite impressing the team, he failed to secure a permanent drive.
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Speaking in a press release about the opportunity to drive for Rahal Letterman Lanigan again, he said: “I’m very grateful to the team for giving me this opportunity. I have been working closely with the team on the simulator program.
“It has been a year since I have been in the car, but I’m confident that the experience gained last year at Portland and Laguna Seca will help me to get up to speed quickly. It will still be a very big challenge and one I am very much looking forward to.”
What chance does Juri Vips have of a full-time IndyCar drive in 2025?
The only contracted Rahal Letterman Lanigan driver for next season is Graham Rahal, meaning there should be at least two seats up for grabs.
Christian Lundgaard’s departure to McLaren may have created an opening for Vips, who will be looking to impress up against the departing Dane and his teammate Fittipaldi in Portland.
At 24 years old, the Estonian will be hoping to secure his first serious full-time gig, having spent the majority of his career so far in the junior formulae of European racing.
RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal cited ‘multiple reasons’ for running a fourth car in Portland, and lauded Vips’ work for the team in the simulator this season as well as his ability to show strong pace at any event.