DTM
Coming into the final DTM round of the year on a hot streak of form, Red Bull drivers Felipe Fraga and Nick Cassidy are eager to close the season on a high.
This year’s eight-event season in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) has been like a roller coaster ride for rookie racers Felipe Fraga and Nick Cassidy. Their talent is in no doubt and drivers have won races at the wheel of the stunning AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020s. But all too often, they’ve been struck by bad luck or, more precisely, struck by their competitors and taken out of the race – often while running high up the order.
It means that neither Red Bull driver is in the six-way fight for the title in the final two races that will unfold on the famous Hockenheimring this weekend. Instead, they head to the Rhine Valley in pursuit of glory; they don’t need to worry about any rivals or drive ‘strategically’, they can go for all out for another victory.
Cassidy is clear in his aim: “I’m really looking forward to finishing the DTM season on a high. The last two weekends have been great for us as a team, and I hope we can round out the season in style.” The quick Kiwi has won two races in the previous two rounds with victory at Spa-Francorchamps and the Red Bull Ring. With wins hard to come by for any driver this season, that form would have probably put him in championship contention had he not missed two events because of other driving commitments.
Fraga says: “I can’t wait to race at Hockenheim! We’ve produced some good performances through the season and I hope we can put some results together at this last event. I’m looking forward to seeing if we can finish on the top step on the podium.”
The Brazilian has just returned from the United States where he raced in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in an LMP3 prototype car, delivering the fastest lap in his category. He’s undoubtedly in a good run of form and, as an experienced racer in multiple cars and categories, he’s accustomed to getting to grips with new cars quickly.
Fraga, Cassidy and substitute driver Ayhancan Güven have scored 129 points so far to put defending champions Red Bull AF Corse third place in the overall team standings ahead of Hockenheim. The runner-up spot is still in their reach as the ABT Sportsline team is only 13 point ahead. But five other teams are trailing the Red Bull squad by less than 15 points. With the team standings that close and the decision in the drivers’ championship even tighter, the final two races will become a real showdown – what else could series boss Gerhard Berger and all the fans have wished for?
