Photo: Toyota Racing Series
Jordan King won the first of the three Toyota Racing Series races at Taupo, while Nick Cassidy won another to retain his points lead…
The Toyota Racing Series moved onto Taupo, a former A1 Grand Prix venue, for the third round of the season. Britain’s Jordan King took pole position in qualifying, and converted that into victory in the first race of the weekend. Fellow BRDC Rising Star Josh Hill finished behind him in second place, with Dutchman Hannes van Asseldonk pipping Ferrari protege Raffaele Marciello to the final podium spot. Kiwis Nick Cassidy and Damon Leitch, who had come into the weekend first and second in the points respectively, rounded out the points.
The reverse grid put the local duo on the front row for the second race, though it was Marciello who led early on. But Cassidy recovered from a poor start to come through to win, ahead of Leitch and Marciello. King was fourth, ahead of van Asseldonk and Lucas Auer.
In the third and final race the drivers battled for the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy, and van Asseldonk defeated Hill to score his third win of the campaign. King was third, acheiving the highest points haul across the weekend. Felix Serralles was fourth, ahead of Auer and Nathanael Berthon.
Cassidy could only manage eighth in the final race, but strengthened his championship lead as his nearest challenger Leitch came home two places further behind. With three of the five rounds complete, Cassidy has 546 points to Leitch’s 517. Hill leads the international contingent on 424, just one point clear of van Asseldonk. Round four takes place this weekend at Hampton Downs.
PaddockScout Driver of the weekend: Jordan King – The Brit, who will go on to race Eurocup and NEC Formula Renault this year, put a bad start to the campaign behind him with a fine performance with a win and three top four finishes.