Japan-based Kiwi tests Erebus Supercar

Japan-based Kiwi Nick Cassidy has undertaken a Supercars evaluation day test with Erebus Motorsport at Winton.

Cassidy, 24, shared David Reynolds’ #9 Penrite Racing entry with Australian Jordan Boys, who drives an ex-Erebus chassis for Image Racing in the Dunlop Super2 Series.

Erebus undertook the day to complete preparations ahead of the Superloop Adelaide 500, running development items that were not ready for the recent Phillip Island test day.

Each Supercars team is afforded one evaluation test per year to assess newcomers, in addition to their regular testing allocation.

They are permitted to run any driver who is not currently a primary driver and has not been a primary driver in the past three years, or competed in more than five main game events the previous year.

Cassidy is a friend of Reynolds and previously worked alongside Erebus CEO Barry Ryan during a brief stint in the NZ SuperTourer Championship in 2012.

Cassidy's SuperGT Lexus

Then a rising star in open-wheel racing, Cassidy moved to Formula Renault and Formula 3 in Europe before embarking on a career in Japan, winning the 2015 Japanese F3 title.

He’s spent recent years in Japan’s Super Formula open-wheel and SuperGT championships, winning the 2017 SuperGT title before finishing second in both classes last year.

Heavily committed to his role in Japan with Toyota/Lexus, Cassidy is unavailable for this year’s PIRTEK Enduro Cup, but may be a prospect for Erebus in future seasons.

Cassidy’s previous Supercars experience was limited to a partial Super2 Series campaign with Greg Murphy Racing in 2011.

Erebus’ single car was joined on track today at Winton by Garry Jacobson’s Kelly Racing Nissan and Macauley Jones’ Brad Jones Racing Holden.

Both were running rookie tests ahead of their maiden appearances as full-time Supercars drivers in Adelaide next week.

Super2 entries from Image Racing, Tickford Racing and Chahda Motorsport were also on track.