Cassidy “really pleased” by pace on DTM return at Lausitzring

The Envision Formula E driver, who made his DTM debut with the AF Corse-run Red Bull Ferrari team at last year’s Norisring round in place of Alex Albon, was brought into the lineup full-time this year but had to miss the Portimao opener due to a clash with the Monaco E-Prix.

In his place, rally legend Sebastien Loeb finished 16th and 18th in his first GT3 outing since 2013.

On his return to the team for the Lausitzring, 2017 Super GT champion Cassidy qualified 12th for the first race and finished ninth after prevailing in a battle with defending DTM champion Maxi Gotz’s Winward Mercedes.

He then qualified seventh for race two and was at the tail-end of a four-car scrap for fourth when punctures put him out of the running.

But the Kiwi professed himself happy with the weekend considering his limited GT3 experience, having shared the car with Loeb for his three days of pre-season testing.

“I just had two punctures on the same lap with about four laps to go, so that sucked,” he told Autosport on Sunday.

“Actually I just had two bolts in my tyres, debris, so not Michelin’s fault, not the team’s fault, just unlucky.

“But to be honest, I’m quite pleased in a way because I felt yesterday we executed a good race.

“I wasn’t happy with the balance yesterday and finished ninth, today I felt like I was in the fight for pole but after the red flag I had already taken the peak out of the tyre and everybody else had that lap still in them.

“Honestly, today felt like we were one of the quickest, we just didn’t get the points.

“But from a personal feeling I’m glad to feel that and even feel like we had more potential than what we showed, so really pleased.

“Here are the best GT3 guys in the world – the field is unbelievable for the