Nick Cassidy says his transfer to the World Endurance Championship has been eased by easier hypercar methods, 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 crew in 2026.
It’s going to 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.
Fashionable LMH and LMDh prototypes stay complicated in their very own proper, that includes hybrid methods that pair an electrical motor with an inner combustion engine.
However for Cassidy, studying hypercar software program has been comparatively simple after 5 seasons in Method E, the place drivers continuously 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 enhancing. However I’m proud of my preliminary degree,” he mentioned following his second check with the Peugeot 9X8 in Bahrain.
“When it comes to the complexities and methods, it is most likely 30% now of what we have now in Method E. So it is virtually like a little bit of a vacation for me when it comes to methods.”
Nick Cassidy, Citroen Racing
Picture by: Beto Issa / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
Cassidy arrives within the WEC with in depth expertise in each single-seaters and high-downforce sportscars.
Through 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 planet, current-generation hypercars are notably slower than the LMP1 machines they changed.
Requested to match hypercars with the GT500s he raced up to now, Cassidy mentioned: “I feel the precise manoeuvring by way of site visitors or the lap time distinction to GT3 is comparable. I hope that is going to make the difference for [multi-class] racing simpler. I am fairly comfy with that.
“The mechanical grip, the tyre grip and the downforce degree is simply rather a lot decrease in hypercars. As a driver, you do not have the sensation you’re attacking the automobile. You are virtually driving on eggshells.”
He added: “I have been very shocked by the dearth of grip in hypercars as of late, and the dearth of downforce efficiency.
“If you happen to take a look at hypercars now, to not sound unfavourable, 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 virtually extra in keeping with Method E than the difference I’ve executed up to now [when I first moved to Formula E after racing in Japan]. It helps me to have two classes which are related.”
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 surroundings within the all-electric collection after leaving Jaguar to hitch 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 assets to Gen4 powertrain growth.
The 31-year-old admitted time isn’t on his aspect as he prepares for 2026, however credited Peugeot for serving to him steadiness the 2 championships.
“I am blown away [by Peugeot]. They have been tremendous nice to work with, tremendous sort when it comes to understanding my schedule. Doing their finest to combine me with the virtually restricted time I’ve.
“I am attempting for the time being to present 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 properly 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 will be ready for each championships.”
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