DTM Norisring
Cassidy to replace Albon in DTM finale at Norisring
Nick Cassidy will contest the final round of the DTM season at the Norisring this weekend, replacing Alex Albon in one of the two AF Corse Ferraris.
Rachit Thukral
Edited: Oct 7, 2021, 3:26 AM
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This would mark Cassidy’s second-ever appearance in a DTM weekend, having taken part in the 2019 title decider at Hockenheim as a wildcard in a Lexus LC500 SUPER GT car.
The Kiwi also took part in the Super GT x DTM Dream Race at Fuji Speedway the same year, winning the opening leg of the weekend for the TOM’S Lexus team.
Cassidy and Albon had always been due to share the AlphaTauri-liveried car this year, with the Kiwi stepping in whenever Albon had a clashing commitments in Formula 1 as Red Bull’s reserve and simulator driver.
Red Bull previously allowed Albon to continue in the DTM in Austria - which fell on the same weekend as F1’s Dutch Grand Prix - after a victory at the Nurburgring propelled him to championship contention. But with the Anglo-Thai driver no longer in the title fight, he will resume his duties with Red Bull’s F1 team this weekend in Turkey.
The announcement marks an early end to Albon’s stint in the DTM, which included podium finishes at Monza and Zolder apart from a dominant win from pole position in the second race at the Nurburgring.
He will return full-time to F1 next year, driving for the Mercedes-powered Williams team alongside the incumbent Nicholas Latifi.
With Albon switching his focus back to F1, Cassidy will complete his first race in a tin-top car since his glittering career in Super GT - which included winning the 2017 GT500 title with Ryo Hirakawa - came to a close last year.
The Kiwi has prior racing experience in Ferrari GT3 cars from endurance races such as the Suzuka 10 Hours, and more recently tested for AF Corse at the Lausitzring in May in preparation for a part-time campaign in the DTM.
With a DTM race outing not materialising until October, the 27-year-old has been primarily focusing his efforts on Formula E, and was one of the top rookies this season - scoring two pole positions and as many podiums while driving for the Envision Virgin Racing team.
Cassidy/Albon's teammate and Red Bull protege Liam Lawson heads to the Norisring as the championship leader, 14 points clear of the Abt Audi of early season favourite Kelvin van der Linde.
“I’m really excited to be joining the team," said Kiwi, who won the Super Formula title in 2019. "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.”
Red Bull's motorsport consultant Dr Helmut Marko added: “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, 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."
Alex Albon, AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
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