Nick Cassidy and teammate Ryō Hirakawa (KeePer TOM’S Racing) have finished third at the latest round of the Autobacs Super GT Series at Suzuka in Japan.
Tomoki Nojiri and Takuya Izawa (ARTA NSX-GT Honda NSX-GT) took the win ahead of ex-Formula 1 driver Jenson Button and Naoki Yamamoto (RAYBRIG NSX-GT Honda NSX-GT) who have now moved into the lead of the series with their second podium finish of the season.
“That was a hard one but super happy with my performance,” commented Cassidy.
Starting from the front row, Button and several other Honda drivers struggled for tyre temperatures during the race, making him vulnerable to the fast-charging TOM’S Lexus of Cassidy who started from P4.
On lap 14 of 52, Heikki Kovalainen suffered a huge crash causing the race’s sole safety car period.
When racing resumed, Button again came under pressure on cold tyres, with Cassidy this time managing to make a move stick at Turn 1 to demote the Briton down to third. This was to be reversed when both cars eventually pitted and Yamamoto emerged ahead of Hirakawa.
Their second podium finish of the season moves Cassidy and Hirakawa up the order into third behind Yamamoto and Button in first who lead the standings by one point from the NISMO pairing of Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli.
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