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Until now Nick Cassidy has been described as a ‘fast track rookie’ but that all changes in 2012 as he returns for his second season racing in TRS. This time round there is greater expectation because young Nick has shown his title potential.
The former “Westlake Boys student from the North Shore” turned 17 in August and, after several promising visits to Europe during 2011; is embarking on what he intends to be a career as a professional racing driver. Last season he claimed a TRS pole position at Teretonga, led three races during the season and finished strongly with two wins at the Taupo finale. Those results ignited his prospects and earned him a six week visit to Europe during 2011 and a chance to experience three different single seater categories.. He had an impressive test in a 2.0 Renault Cup car, tested and raced a Formula Abarth at Mugello in Italy and experienced a German Formula Masters chassis at Assen in the Netherlands. His intention now is to secure a regular European drive. At the annual post-season Formula Renault ‘collective’ test session at the Barcelona circuit in Spain Nick was second fastest in the first test session. He was in a group of 44 drivers taking part in the one-day evaluation that is seen as an important quide to up-and-coming international motorsport talent. The only driver faster than Cassidy in the first session was young Russian driver Daniil Kvyat who was in New Zealand at the start of 2011 competing in the International Toyota Series. Nick has a winning pedigree, honed in speedway, karting and a quick fire run through the traditional junior steps of Formula First and Formula Ford. He’s a young man in a hurry and having finished runner up to Mitch Evans in his Rookie season, he intends to be setting the TRS pace from the outset. In his last three seasons Nick has been Rookie of the Year and runner-up in Formula First, Formula Ford and TRS; and up until recently was continuing to gain experience by racing “a bit of speedway on the side” He started young. At six Nick was racing a cadet kart and moved up to Junior Restricted as soon as the KartSport rules allowed at the age of 10. He was the youngest ever winner of the North Island Sprint Kart title at aged 8, and completed the same feat with the New Zealand Sprint Kart Title at aged 9. Another North Island and New Zealand Championship followed in Junior Restricted, and by the age of 14 Nick had won every Karting event on the North Island. Speedway was also on the programme with a season in quarter midgets at Western Springs when he was just 8. Nick won the New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge and earned a place at the World Finals for the class in Italy where he placed fourth in the pre-final and 11th in the Final. That was a good showing against 72 drivers from 55 different countries. His potential was recognized with a Speedsport Scholarship into Formula First with Sabre Motorsport. He had already won the 2008 Manfeild Winter Series with three wins, and nine podiums from the 12 races. During the 2008-2009 Formula First season Nick won 8 races – four more than any previous Scholarship winner – had two pole positions, 16 podiums and eight fastest laps from the eight round series. His rapid rise continued in Formula Ford. Again he was Rookie of the Year and again he won eight races. This time there were 14 podiums from 18 races and five fastest laps from the six rounds. His stated objective in 2012 is to win the TRS Championship. |