Nick Cassidy will join fellow Kiwi Liam Lawson in the Red Bull AlphaTauri AF Corse Ferrari team competing at the final DTM Series round at Norisring. Cassidy will replace Alex Albon, in the AlphaTauri Ferrari, who will have to fulfil his duties as a replacement driver in the Red Bull Racing team during the Formula 1 race in Turkey this weekend.
“I’m really excited to be joining the team,” commented Cassidy. “It’s been great following Liam and Alex this season, they’ve just done a tremendous job so far. I’m looking forward to Norisring now. I really like the circuit, I’ve been racing there before in Formula 3. I feel like I’m a rookie with DTM but it should be quite exciting and I hope I can help the team secure the teams’ championship this season.”
Cassidy, who has extensive experience competing in the Super GT Series in Japan, previously drove the AF Corse Ferrari during the official DTM test days at DEKRA Lausitzring in May. He has also competed at the 2.3 kilometres long street circuit in Nuremberg in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, only just missing out on the podium by finishing fourth in 2016.
“It was a reality at the beginning of the season that the driving duties of the Red Bull AlphaTauri AF Corse car would be shared by Alex and Nick,” said Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsport Consultant. “This was because we could not predict how the changes in both race calendars (F1 and DTM) would affect our driver line up.
“It’s unfortunate that both Istanbul (F1) and Norisring (DTM) races were changed during the season to create a conflict in the availability of Alex for the final race of the DTM season. It was not a decision taken lightly considering the commitment Alex has shown to DTM this season, but Alex’s duties in Istanbul will be required.
“We know Nick has been waiting for his opportunity to race the Ferrari and more importantly assist Red Bull AlphaTauri AF Corse and Liam to try and win both the teams’ and drivers’ championships at the Norisring this weekend.”
This will be the first time both Kiwi have competed together on the track. Lawson currently leads the DTM by 14-points ahead of Kelvin van der Linde. While Lawson hasn’t competed at Norisring, it is the home track of van der Linde’s ABT Sportsline team, based in Kempten. Two races this weekend will see a new DTM champion crowned.
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