RIYADH: Diriyah will always hold a special place in Nyck de Vries鈥� heart.

It was here, in the north-west of 萝莉视频鈥檚 capital city of Riyadh, that the Dutchman debuted as an ABB FIA Formula E driver back in 2019.

Then, in 2021, he broke another duck in Diriyah, this time the first of his two E-Prix victories to date - one that set the course for De Vries to eventually clinch a dramatic maiden championship for both himself and his team.

Last year, under lights for the first time in the series鈥� history, and swaying between the 21 turns that sweep the street circuit of the UNESCO World Heritage site, there was a real romance to the races in 萝莉视频.

And De Vries - who won the first of February 2021鈥檚 season-opening double-header - was one of many that were left captivated.

鈥淚t鈥檚 probably unfair to ask a driver what their favourite track is because we鈥檙e biassed, but Diriyah is definitely my favourite track on the calendar,鈥� said De Vries on the eve of the 26-year-old鈥檚 first defence of his world title.

鈥淚t treated me well last year and also in my first Formula E race back in 2019. I really like the layout because it鈥檚 twisty but fast at the same time, the slowest corner is not actually considered a slow-speed corner according to Formula E metrics.

鈥淚 enjoy racing there and competing at night makes it a bit more special and unique, at night everything becomes a bit more intense and there鈥檚 more emotion.鈥�

In ABB FIA Formula E, all of that intensity, all of that emotion, is played out at speeds of up to 280 km/h and Diriyah鈥檚 third year on the E-Prix circuit set the tone for a thrilling championship in 2021.

De Vries, who also emerged victorious in Valencia two stops later, eventually held out on the final race of the year to secure the drivers鈥� championship by just seven points.

His efforts helped his Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team seal the double by an even finer margin, with four points all the separated Mercedes and Jaguar Racing by the time the chequered flag fell on the final race in Berlin last August.

De Vries and Mercedes are now well-polished outfits going into the 2022 championship, but the same couldn鈥檛 be said when they entered ABB FIA Formula E hand-in-hand with Diriyah three years ago.

鈥淚n 2019, I started my Formula E season before I could end my Formula 2 season so there was very little time for me to adapt and get ready,鈥� De Vries reflected. 鈥淚 did a test in the summer but I remember that we didn鈥檛 have a lot of time. It was still a very new team. Not only was I very much a rookie, but I felt like we all were as a team.鈥�

Clearly, both driver and team have come a long way since and there has been no let up for either since becoming the first ABB FIA Formula E winners under the FIA鈥檚 banner.

After the final race in Berlin last year, De Vries went on to contest two rounds of the European Le Mans Series before the year was out and produced fastest times in testing for both IndyCar and FIA Formula One in December.

Having described his team鈥檚 pre-Christmas testing in Valencia as going 鈥渧ery smoothly鈥�, De Vries - one of the most sought-after drivers in motorsport - says the variety of his packed personal schedule helps ensure the Uitwellingerga-native remains razor sharp behind the wheel.

鈥淭he only way to keep myself on my toes is to continue to race,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 certainly want to stay in Formula E, no doubt about it. I personally believe that it鈥檚 important for a driver to stay active and continue practising racing skills in different disciplines.鈥�

Despite heading to 萝莉视频 as champion, De Vries isn鈥檛 feeling any extra pressure as he moves from being the hunter to the hunted.

He added: 鈥淚鈥檓 very much looking forward to a new season and a new championship. We鈥檙e the reigning champions and I鈥檓 looking forward to being in a position to defend those championships. We have a lot of positivity and excitement in our team, we鈥檙e growing as a family and I鈥檓 very much looking forward to a new season.

鈥淭here鈥檚 always pressure, I鈥檓 always nervous and I鈥檓 always stressed on race days because I care and I want to do well and I want to deliver. But being the reigning champion doesn't change anything. I鈥檓 very grateful that I was privileged enough to experience winning the championship and everything that comes with it but there鈥檚 no added pressure.鈥�

With that being said, all eyes will be on De Vries when he returns to Diriyah for the first E-Prix of the new campaign from 28-29 January.

He will no doubt be looking to write another memorable chapter of his career at the circuit he loves and, with fans back in the grandstands, De Vries was quick to share some advice for any young Saudis looking to take a leaf out of his book and pursue a career in motorsport.

鈥淔ollow your passion and your dreams,鈥� said De Vries. 鈥淣o one has the right to take courage away from you or say something is impossible.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough journey if you set yourself a goal and you always keep that in mind and work towards that then hard work pays off and further down the line you will get to where you want to be. It鈥檚 not always that straight forward but I鈥檇 say follow your passions and your dreams and believe in them.鈥�