Nick Cassidy: “I’ll miss the Excel” as Citroën chapter closes GEN3 era

Share

 

“Like racing here is next-level, it’s one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had is racing, you know, next to the Excel Centre… going to miss it.”

Team: Citroen Racing|Driver: Nick Cassidy|Car:37|Vehicle:Gen3evo|Vehicle:Citroën ë-CX||Photographer: Tom Lloyd|Event:London E Prix|Circuit: Royal Docklands|Location:Excel Centre, London|Series: FIA Formula E|Country:United Kingdom|Session:Qualifying|Season:2026|Keyword:Qualifying|

Those are the words of Nick Cassidy, reflecting on what the London E‑Prix has meant to him as Formula E stages its final race inside the ExCeL Arena before the series moves to Brands Hatch – and as the GEN3 era draws to a close ahead of a new car next season.

Cassidy won here last year on his way to second in the championship with Jaguar, and he carries very good memories of the Excel into this weekend. Now, as he races for Citroën, he’s saying goodbye to a venue and a car that have defined much of his Formula E success.

A driver built for GEN3

For Cassidy, the end of GEN3 feels personal. “It’s a little bit [emotional] for me, to be honest, because I think… I feel like I’m a guy who’s been quite well suited to this era Formula E. I’ve had a lot of wins, a lot of podiums with this car across three different teams… which I think is rare for a driver. So, I’m pretty proud of that.”

His record backs that up. Since joining Formula E, the New Zealander has won with both Envision Racing and Jaguar TCS Racing, regularly mixing at the front in qualifying and converting that pace into race wins and podiums. His 2025/26 campaign with Jaguar included a victory in London as he pushed for the title, ultimately finishing second in the standings – a season that underlined his status as one of the grid’s most consistent performers.

Citroën: a new flag, familiar fight

Cassidy’s move to Citroën marks his third Formula E team, following stints with Envision and Jaguar. It also sits within a broader Stellantis portfolio: he races with Peugeot in the FIA World Endurance Championship, linking his single-seater work with a major manufacturer programme in endurance racing.

|Photographer: Tom Lloyd|Event:London E Prix|Circuit: Royal Docklands|Location:Excel Centre, London|Series: FIA Formula E|Country:United Kingdom|Session:FP1|Season:2026|Team: Citroen Racing|Driver: Nick Cassidy|Car:37|Vehicle:Gen3evo|Vehicle:Citroën ë-CX|

For Cassidy, Citroën’s arrival in Formula E carries weight. “It’s fantastic to have Citroën as a brand in Formula E. With all their success in the WRC days, the World Touring Car days… the history is pretty impressive. But now to bring them to electric single-seaters… also a world championship.”

The partnership has delivered early highs. Citroën’s win in Mexico stood out as a highlight in a season where the team wasn’t quite in sustained title contention but remained competitive enough to be “in the conversation and still be in the fight”. Cassidy sums it up simply: “It’s been a successful season, so yeah, overall very happy.”

From Super GT champion to Stellantis flagship

Cassidy’s reputation was forged long before his Formula E breakthrough. A former Super GT champion in Japan, he dominated at the highest level of Japanese GT racing, winning the title with remarkable consistency and earning a reputation as a driver who could extract maximum performance over a season, not just in one-off races. That success made him one of the most sought-after talents outside Europe, before his full-time switch to Formula E.

His move into the Stellantis family – with Citroën in Formula E and Peugeot in WEC – reflects a broader career shift: from Japanese GT star to a central figure in a global manufacturer’s motorsport strategy. It’s a role that suits his methodical, feedback-driven style and his ability to deliver under pressure across different formats and machinery.

#93 Peugeot TotalEnergies – Peugeot 9X8 – Hybrid: Paul Di Resta, Stoffel Vandoorne, Nick Cassidy FIA WEC TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps, Free Practice 1, Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, Route du Circuit, Stavelot, Belgium © Paul Foster

Culture, change, and knowing what works

Joining a French manufacturer group has meant adjustments. “It’s a bit of a change… the work culture ends up being a bit different,” Cassidy says. “But ultimately I’ve got an experience now, career-wise, to know what I’m looking for, what I like, and what makes me go well. So I try to kind of stick to those same things. Sometimes people agree with them, sometimes people don’t, which is what it is.”

That self-awareness has been a hallmark of his career. Across three Formula E teams, multiple manufacturers, and a title challenge in Super GT, Cassidy has refined what he needs to perform: clear processes, honest feedback loops, and an environment where performance is the primary currency. It’s a formula that has served him well through GEN3 – and one he’ll carry into whatever comes next.

|Photographer: Tom Lloyd|Event:London E Prix|Circuit: Royal Docklands|Location:Excel Centre, London|Series: FIA Formula E|Country:United Kingdom|Session:Qualifying|Season:2026|Team: Citroen Racing|Driver: Nick Cassidy|Car:37|Vehicle:Gen3evo|Vehicle:Citroën ë-CX|Team: LOLA Yamaha ABT Formula E Team|Driver: Lucas Di Grassi|Car:11|Vehicle:Gen3evo|Vehicle:Lola T001|

 Closing one chapter, eyeing the next

As Formula E leaves the ExCeL behind and prepares for GEN4, Cassidy is conscious of what he’s achieved in this era. Multiple wins, multiple podiums, multiple teams – and a rare adaptability that has kept him at the front through rule tweaks, tyre changes, and shifting competitive balances.

He’ll miss the unique atmosphere of racing through the Excel Arena, but he leaves the GEN3 chapter with strong credentials and a clear sense of direction. With Citroën already showing race-winning pace and his WEC programme with Peugeot adding another top-level platform, Cassidy’s career is moving into a phase where he’s not just adapting to new challenges – he’s helping define them.

***

Video and article by Sam Tickell, photos by Tom Lloyd for www.racerviews.com