Kiwi driver and reigning Japanese Formula3 Champion, Nick Cassidy, is hoping he can mirror his open wheel success in Japan’s premier GT class, Super GT500 this weekend with the opening round at Okayama circuit.
Racing for Lexus Team TOM’s in the aggressively-styled RC F, Cassidy is paired with former series champion, Daisuke Ito, in the 300km endurance race.
While the circuit is well known to Cassidy, the qualifying process and sharing the track with the Super GT300 category brings challenges that need to managed carefully by the Kiwi and his Lexus Team TOM’s pit crew.
Strategy is a huge consideration in the Super GT series where Qualifying 1 is carried out with all 15 Super GT500 cars, with just the top 8 cars then progressing to the second Qualifying session, with the alternate driver at the wheel. The size of the field during the race is also a key factor.
“It’s a big field. 48 cars in total will be sharing the track at once with speed differentials between the different classes. The weekend has the potential to throw plenty of variables at the team, which is really challenging but also really exciting I think.”
“I’ve been waiting for this weekend a long time and I’ll be giving it everything I have, I’m glad I’ve got the experience around Okayama, albeit in a much different car. We’ve put in a lot of hard work testing with TRD and Bridgestone over the winter to prepare for this weekend. It’s fair to say I’m pumped about taking the wheel, but I’m realistic about the challenge ahead. This will be a massive learning curve for me compared to F3.” Said Cassidy.
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