An elated Nick Cassidy says victory in the first race of the second round is a huge relief.

Having fought through and overtaken pole-man Hannes van Asseldonk on the opening lap – all while fending off the attentions of Southland driver Damon Leitch, Cassidy says the series is looking “very positive”.

“It’s lifted the monkey off my back, for sure. It’s always good to get the first win under you belt,” he said afterward.

The start of the race was chaotic, Bruno Bonifacio stalling on the grid as the lights turned green and bringing the crowd to their feet as racers threaded around his car and off into the first corner.

Cassidy, Leitch and Felix Serralles swarmed van Asseldonk, who was forced to give up his lead as the field headed onto the back straight.

As the safety car came out onto the circuit Leitch, Cassidy and Serralles had all got in front of van Asseldonk, who was fighting off Josh Hill. Moments later as the circuit went “green” and racing resumed, the fight for the lead was between Cassidy and Leitch, resolved in Cassidy’s favour.

Leitch spent several laps clawing his way back onto the rear of Cassidy’s car but couldn’t get close enough to overtake.

Serralles found himself under pressure from a charging Josh Hill, who had also overtaken van Asseldonk. Hill overtook Serralles and closed on the leading two. Leitch was pre-occupied with trying to get a clear run at Cassidy and the pair were visibly slowing. Hill got closer to the two, and made one bold overtaking on Leitch move down the back straight, then opted to consolidate his placing.

Felix Serralles held on for a strong fourth overall, 2.39 seconds behind Cassidy but a half second clear of van Asseldonk.

The feature race of the second round is the Timaru Herald Trophy, raced over 20 laps on Sunday.

-Ends-

21 January, 2012
For further information please contact:
Barrie Thomlinson
Telephone: (09) 270 2759
Mobile: 021 984 639

Murray Taylor
Telephone: (09) 445 0209
Mobile: 027 294 7930

Website: www.toyotaracing.co.nz
FaceBook: ToyotaRacingSeries
Twitter: ToyotaRacingNZ
Results: http://www.toyotaracing.co.nz/calendar-results
Driver profiles: http://www.toyotaracing.co.nz/2011-season-drivers

2012 International Toyota Racing Series
Round 1: 12-15 January Teretonga Park, Invercargill Spirit of a Nation Cup
Round 2: 19-22 January Timaru Raceway, Timaru Timaru Herald Trophy
Round 3: 26-29 January Taupo Motorsport Park Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy
Round 4: 2-5 February Hampton Downs, Auckland New Zealand Motor Cup
Round 5: 9-12 February Manfeild, Feilding New Zealand Grand Prix
(Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup)