Japanese Formula 3 champion Nick Cassidy will contest the 2016 European F3 season with Prema Powerteam.
Cassidy, who was also named as a Lexus factory driver in Super GT last week, joins Lance Stroll, Maximilian Gunther and rookie Ralf Aron in the Prema’s four-car line-up.
The 21-year-old Kiwi did two F3 rounds with the Italian team last year, replacing the outgoing Brandon Maisano, and ended up scoring two podiums at the Nurburgring.
In addition to his Japanese F3 crown, Cassidy has also taken two Toyota Racing Series titles in his native New Zealand – and has finished on the podium in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2014.
The Kiwi is likely to be among the pre-season favourites for the upcoming F3 campaign, having struck a deal with a Prema squad that has not been beaten in European F3 (or its predecessor F3 Euro Series) since 2010.
“Prema’s record and their history, for sure, give me confidence heading into this year,” Cassidy told Motorsport.com.
“But it’s a very long championship, anything can happen, so it’s important to take it one race at a time and see what’s possible.”
A perennial contender for drives on the European single-seater scene, Cassidy is yet to complete a full season on the continent.
“This will be my first proper full championship in Europe, which I think it’s important – being with a team that I did all of the testing with in the pre-season and having some experience in the car as well.
“It’s great to keep me race fit and I’m very excited.”
Super GT prioritised
Despite having secured an F3 seat with a frontrunning team, Cassidy noted that his Super GT efforts will be the focal point of his season.
“My first priority this year is in Super GT with Lexus,” he said. “This year’s an important one.”
The dual campaign means that Cassidy will be forced to skip May’s European F3 round at Spielberg due to a Super GT clash.
However, the Kiwi has stated that he is not ruling out a long-term future in open-wheel racing.
“I don’t wanna close any doors in my career – of course, to go as high as possible [in single-seaters] is a dream.
“But where I am now in Super GT is a bit of a dream come true also.”
