IMPRESSIVE ROOKIE CASSIDY TAKES EARLY POINTS LEAD

Speedsport “Star of Tomorrow” Scholarship winner Nick Cassidy made a close to perfect start to his car racing career yesterday at Taupo Motorsport Park to take the lead in the Formula First national championship. The Auckland youngster headed off a strong challenge from Ian Foster and Michael Shepherd to take two wins and a second placing elevating himself 15 points clear of nearest rival Foster.

Race 1 Race 1 proved to be a classic Formula First affair. At the lights, Cassidy and Shepherd and Matthew Stubbs began dueling immediately. Proceedings would be short lived however when Dave Scammell and Jamie Gaskin had separate incidents at turn four, bringing out the safety car. Foster, who had started from the rear of the field in 23rd position, was already up to eighth at the time and the safety car only helped the Aucklander to catch the leading bunch. Ryan Hellier was also in the mix.

At the restart it was once again Shepherd and Cassidy who held the upper hand – both racing hard to keep track position.

As the top five reached the final turn, Cassidy pulled up along side Shepherd and placed his car on the outside of the former champion, hoping to position himself ideally for the final run to the flag. Nerves were strained as the two entered the final turn side by side, but Cassidy held his ground on the outside and got the better run on the exit to take a jubilant win by half a car length.

Behind Cassidy and Shepherd, Foster had managed to get his car into third ahead of Hellier, completing what can only be described as a great recovery. Foster’s qualifying had been ruined on Saturday by a misfire, which meant he did not get a single lap at speed.

Fifth place went to Stubbs who had recovered after a spin at the final turn a few laps from the end, followed by Bryan McConkey, Michael Neville, Paul Butler, Bradley McDonald and David Ruthven.

Race 2 Foster’s race 1 performance had seen him move up the grid to fourth, which left him in a far better position to challenge from the outset. But once again it was Cassidy, Stubbs and Shepherd who set the early pace.

Stubbs spent much of the race in the front but would ultimately have his race undone when he lost his nosecone after minor contact.

Foster appeared to be biding his time, but Cassidy had good pace at the front and proved difficult to match.

The finish came down to a classic last lap drafting battle. Foster was in third in the final run down the main straight, but drafted off second placed Shepherd and trapped him in behind leader Cassidy. Shepherd was not to be outdone and moved his car to the outside forcing Foster to the edge of the track approaching the final turn. All three ran side by side into the final turn, but Foster ran out of room to make the turn and elected instead to short-cut the chicane across the grass.

Cassidy had also overshot the apex and left the circuit but not to the extent Foster had. As Cassidy and Shepherd rounded the final corner onto the start finish/straight, Foster had come out in the lead, but knew he’d have to concede at least one position to avoid being penalized for cutting the chicane. He dutifully backed off and allowed Cassidy to take the win. Shepherd also pulled up along side but was eventually credited with third.

Some confusion ensued after the chequered flag, but officials reviewed the final corner incident shortly thereafter and were satisfied that Foster had done enough to concede any advantage he may have gained.

Fourth once again went to Hellier, whose car was slightly down on power, ahead of Matt Gibson, Stubbs, Neville, Ruthven, McConkey and rookie Andrew Vincent. Gibson’s result was a relief for the young Wanganui student, after having not left the line in the first race when his gear linkage broke off in his hand at the start line.

Race 3 Foster was out to prove a point in the final race of the day and set about working the race to his advantage. Cassidy, Stubbs, Shepherd and Hellier were once again in the mix, with Gibson, rookie Bramwell King and Neville expanding the leading pack to eight. Gibson initially lead, but quickly slipped back into the pack.

Approaching the chicane on the second lap, Dom Kalasih, Jamie Gaskin and Bryan McConkey had a coming together, culminating in Kalasih rolling over. His car initially took to the air and rotated 90 degrees, then came down hard on the roll bar, before righting itself and coming to rest on its wheels.

Thankfully Kalasih emerged unhurt from his car and after a brief safety car period, racing resumed.

Foster had been at the head of the field when the safety car took control and he once again headed the pack on the restart. Cassidy was hard on his heels and took the lead from Foster on the final lap – although perhaps playing into Foster’s strategy while doing so.

Stubbs was having a more effective race this time around and had never been out of the top bunch throughout. He seemed to be waiting patiently for the right time to make a move. Unfortunately for Stubbs, Cassidy and Foster held the upper hand and had positioned themselves to lock others out of the battle.

Shepherd, by contrast, had not really had any opportunity to make progress at the front and found himself uncharacteristically out of the running come the last lap.

On the run down to the final corner Foster led - with Cassidy hot on his heels. Approaching the chicane, Cassidy swung out to the outside in an attempt to make the pass, but Foster held his ground on the inside and took the win by half a second.

Stubb’s patience paid off with a third placing.

Behind Stubbs, it was Shepherd, Gibson, Hellier, Neville, rookie Bramwell King, Ben Poulsen and Butler.

So after round 1, Cassidy heads the points table on 217, ahead of Foster on 202. Shepherd sits in third on 181.

The next round takes place at Manfeild on the 22nd-23rd November.