Eric Thompson: Learning curve leads rookie to TRS

Nick Cassidy. Photo / Janna Dixon

Young Aucklander Nick Cassidy will be the flag-bearer for New Zealand when the Toyota Racing Series starts this weekend at Invercargill's Teretonga Raceway with round one of the five-race championship.

The 17-year-old had a great TRS series last year, finishing second to Mitch Evans and winning the rookie of the year award.

This gained him the opportunity to join 44 other drivers for a test day at the Barcelona circuit in Spain for Formula Renault.

Testing with 44 other up-and-coming young drivers was a good indicator as to how much talent Cassidy has, and he wasn't backward in making sure he was at the front.

In his first session, Cassidy produced the second-fastest time.

Russian driver Daniil Kvyat, who was one of the nine international drivers who raced in last year's International Toyota Series in New Zealand, kept Cassidy out of the top spot. Kvyat competed in the full European 2.0 Renault championship season and, at the last round at Barcelona, clinched third in the 2011 series.

"I'm feeling better-prepared going into my second season in these cars [TRS], particularly after gaining the chance to race in Europe late last year where I gained so much more knowledge on wings and slicks," said Cassidy.

He also raced in Formula Arbath in Italy when he tested for the Ferrari Driver Academy and the Formula Renault Eurocup 2.0. Both cars use a similar chassis to the New Zealand TRS car, so he'll be keen to use the knowledge gained in Europe to ensure he's at the front of the pack.

"With virtually no testing allowed for the New Zealand series, I was always on a steep learning curve last year," he said. "If I can eliminate the mistakes I made then, I believe it will hold me in good stead for the series this year."

But he'll have his work cut out. Cassidy and his fellow Kiwis will have to keep a watchful eye on the 15 international drivers who will be competing in the series.

Reigning champion Evans is not racing all five rounds and Cassidy has the best credentials of the Kiwi drivers - Damon Leitch from Invercargill, and rookies Jono Lester, Auckland, and Chris Vlok, Darfield - having finished second in the series last year with

two race wins and seven podium finishes.

"I'm certainly aiming to go one better, but I'm not underestimating the competition," he said.

"Normally we have to go overseas to race against so many internationals, but it's like Europe has come to us this year and that's given me even more motivation to win the championship.

"However, I have no illusions that it's going to be an easy task."

The TRS series will be raced over five consecutive weekends and drivers from 12 countries will make up the entry list.

The success of the series has not gone unnoticed by talent-spotters in Europe and one of the bright young things in Europe is Italian teenager Raffaele Marciello.

He's one of five drivers being groomed for a future in Formula One by the Ferrari Driver Academy.

The steadily increasing recognition of TRS in the global motorsport market is ensuring growing numbers of overseas drivers see the series as a stepping-stone in their race development.

Since the series began in 2005, there have been 21 non-resident competitors and nine TRS overseas race winners.