With just three rounds left in both categories, Nick Cassidy currently leads both the Super GT Series and the Super Formula Series in Japan. This is a unique ‘double’ situation to be in, with two quite different classes. Coupled with this, he is also in the situation of having enough Super Licence points which are required to compete in Formula One, if he gets the phone call. There is still a lot left to play for but potentially this could be a significant or ‘Super’ season in Cassidy’s career.
This situation that Cassidy finds himself in is not by chance. The 24-year-old driver has the unique ability to strategize both on and off the track. To make the best out of the situation he finds himself in.
He is where he is today more by design, rather than by default. He hasn’t ‘fallen on his feet’, he has had to work very hard to achieve where he is today.
Take for example his second place in the Super Formula round at Sportsland Sugo in Japan at the end of May this season. It was a race where a year ago he was on pole position, but this time the team struggled for setup heading into qualifying.
As he says …’the car set up we started with was the same as last year and we weren’t quick, so it made it quite confusing and hard to find the right direction. Finally, in the eight minute warm up I found something.”
Starting 11th was better than where the car setup was at and he had nothing to lose in a strategy he adopted for the race.
This saw him dive into the pits after just three laps for a change from medium to soft tyres, a risky move that worked out to his advantage later in the race after 63 laps on the soft tyre.
So what of his motorsport history.
Having finished runner up in the 2010 NZ Formula Ford Championship, he moved up into his first season in the Toyota Racing Series. This wings-and-slicks category was to set a sound foundation that had already been established in various kartsport categories.
Two wins amongst seven podiums saw him finish runner up to Mitch Evans. Then came his two TRS championship titles in 2012 and 2013. This included two NZ Grand Prix victories topped off with a third GP win in 2014.
A podium (3rd) in the 2014 Macau Grand Prix appeared to propel his career and open doors that he had been knocking on.
2015 saw him finish Formula 3 European Championship in 16th with two podiums. Doors in Europe weren’t opening but rather in Japan a Formula 3 campaign resulted in seven wins, 13 podiums and the title added to his CV.
2016 saw him compete in both Japan and Europe. Again he was to compete in the F3 Euro champs, but this was a means to an ends. His primary goal was driving for Toyota in the Lexus factory backed team in the Super GT Series. This was his first full season in the category after competing in one race the previous season in the GT300 Class.
While the European campaign that year was secondary, it was impressive. His first category race win, nine podiums and one pole position saw him finish fourth overall after 30 races. Not bad when his focus was on Japan.
This paved the way for his, and co-driver Ryo Hirakawa, successful 2017 year winning the Autobacs Super GT Series in the GT500 class for the Lexus Team Keeper Tom’s.
Also that year was his first foray into Super Formula where he finished a credible 10th overall for his Kondo Racing team, achieving their first podium and his first pole position.
Outside of both ‘Super’ categories, Cassidy has the required Super Licence points required by a driver for full-time participation in Formula One. This puts him in a unique situation as there are very few drivers coming through the ranks that have the required 40+ points.
In favour of his situation, he has Super Formula experience, arguably the next fastest single-seater category outside Formula One. Maybe what he lacks is an association with a particular team or chassis/engine manufacturer as his racing in Japan is associated very strongly with Toyota. Arguably a neutral position could well work for him. There is no doubt that Cassidy will have a stragtegy for this situation.
Nick Cassidy has an underlying confidence and belief that he has not just the talent but also the confidence and work ethic required to attain his motorsport objectives. His ability to strategize with the tools at hand is an unique characteristic that is not often seen in today’s drivers.
There is still plenty to play for and luck can go either way in sport. Whatever the outcome at the end of the Japanese season, Cassidy will be regarded as a top driver in both Super GT and Super Formula.
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