Nick Cassidy says his transfer to the World Endurance Championship has been eased by less complicated hypercar programs, which he claims is “like a little bit of a vacation” in comparison with Method E equipment.
Cassidy will mix his Citroen Method E commitments with a full marketing campaign within the WEC’s prime class on the manufacturing facility Peugeot group in 2026.
It should mark simply the second season within the WEC for the Kiwi, who beforehand raced a Ferrari 488 GTE for AF Corse within the ultimate 12 months of the GTE Am class in 2022.
Trendy LMH and LMDh prototypes stay advanced in their very own proper, that includes hybrid programs that pair an electrical motor with an inside combustion engine.
However for Cassidy, studying hypercar software program has been comparatively easy after 5 seasons in Method E, the place drivers continually handle power, regeneration and a variety of system settings.
“I am simply going to develop in confidence on a regular basis, and I hope that I am simply going to proceed bettering. However I’m proud of my preliminary stage,” he stated following his second check with the Peugeot 9X8 in Bahrain.
“When it comes to the complexities and programs, it is most likely 30% now of what we have now in Method E. So it is nearly like a little bit of a vacation for me when it comes to programs.”
Nick Cassidy, Citroen Racing
Photograph by: Beto Issa / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Cassidy arrives within the WEC with intensive expertise in each single-seaters and high-downforce sportscars.
Throughout the second half of the 2010s, he raced in Japan’s two greatest classes, successful titles in each Tremendous Method and Tremendous GT’s GT500 class earlier than switching to Method E in 2021.
Whereas the WEC’s prime class as soon as featured the quickest prototypes on the earth, current-generation hypercars are notably slower than the LMP1 machines they changed.
Requested to check hypercars with the GT500s he raced previously, Cassidy stated: “I believe the precise manoeuvring by means of visitors or the lap time distinction to GT3 is analogous. I hope that is going to make the variation for [multi-class] racing simpler. I am fairly snug with that.
“The mechanical grip, the tyre grip and the downforce stage is simply quite a bit decrease in hypercars. As a driver, you do not have the sensation you might be attacking the automotive. You are nearly driving on eggshells.”
He added: “I have been very shocked by the shortage of grip in hypercars lately, and the shortage of downforce efficiency.
“Should you have a look at hypercars now, to not sound detrimental, however in comparison with what I used to be used to in Tremendous GT or Tremendous Method, it is a completely different world.
“It is nearly extra consistent with Method E than the variation I’ve performed previously [when I first moved to Formula E after racing in Japan]. It helps me to have two classes which can be comparable.”
Cassidy faces a packed schedule in 2026 as he balances his new WEC programme with one other season in Method E. He’s additionally adjusting to a brand new atmosphere within the all-electric collection after leaving Jaguar to affix Citroen, which beforehand competed underneath the Maserati banner.
Method E commitments will occupy much more of his time because the 12 months progresses, with producers already beginning to shift resources to Gen4 powertrain development.
The 31-year-old admitted time isn’t on his facet as he prepares for 2026, however credited Peugeot for serving to him stability the 2 championships.
“I am blown away [by Peugeot]. They have been tremendous nice to work with, tremendous variety when it comes to understanding my schedule. Doing their finest to combine me with the virtually restricted time I’ve.
“I am making an attempt for the time being to offer full focus to 2 packages. But it surely’s true, with Gen 4 coming in Method E, with the present season in Method E, and making that transfer throughout, that is been extraordinarily busy. And clearly with WEC as effectively to combine.
“I am quick on time, when it comes to days I can spend on simulators, in conferences and issues. However I am [working] 5 days every week throughout all packages for the final two-and-a-half months simply to ensure I may be ready for each championships.”
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