Auckland racer Flynn Mullany is aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Kiwi motorsport hero Nick Cassidy by targeting Asia as the location of his next career venture.
A New Zealand representative at the inaugural FIA Motorsport Games in the Formula 4 class, Mullany recently took part of an official Toyota Racing Series test alongside a handful of the nation’s top youngsters.
The two-day test held at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park gave Mullany a prime opportunity to get to grips with an all-new driving experience whilst also providing a platform from which he can reassess his next career steps.
“I believe the test day was a major success for me as I was able to get a massive amount of confidence to drive the FT50 now and I am able to push its limits in the dry and also wet,” Mullany told Velocity News.
“I think the opportunity to do TRS is not just a massive achievement but also a great opportunity for my motorsport career.
“But I personally do not think I am currently ready to compete in such a big championship just yet. I feel like if I can succeed in the lower classes the I will feel more confident and prepared to compete in the Toyota Racing Series.”
A cutthroat series at its core, TRS has quickly become synonymous with enticing many international high-profile drivers taking advantage of the Southern Hemisphere summer seasonal difference.
Likewise, the recent boost of Super Licence points on offer to the series victor – now sitting at 10 – coupled by the all-new FT60 chassis which largely resembles a Formula 3 car elsewhere around the world has all but ensured TRS finds a mark on the global junior formulae radar.
Ultimately, it is a mature decision on Mullany’s behalf to bide his time before making a leap into the country’s premier single-seater class, but it hasn’t distracted him from his overall ambitions which surprisingly centres around the continent of Asia.
“My plans at the moment are still vague on what I will be racing this summer, but I am now committing to try to get to Japan by October to compete in their F4 Championship.
“I see my future in motorsport in these Asia regions. I think the opportunity to do TRS is not just a massive achievement but also a great opportunity for my motorsport career.”
While Europe has been the location of choice for many budding Formula 1 drivers, several Kiwis have tried their hand in Asia and have often come out with noteworthy accomplishments.
Most recently, fellow youngster Conrad Clark, who was also present at the TRS test, claimed the Chinese F4 championship last year, while the most prominent driver of all being Asian Triple Crown winner Nick Cassidy.
“I have been following Nick [Cassidy] since his TRS days when I was a little kid, and when I saw his massive success in Asia it gave me more hope of achieving my motorsport goals.
“I also love the culture and their motorsport background as well which is a perfect fit for me.”
Mullany contested one round of the current Best Bars Toyota 86 championship in Pukekohe before making the venture to Italy for the Motorsport Games where he finished 15th overall.
A four-round Japanese F4 championship is slated to begin on October 2 from Fuji Speedway with Mullany set to firm any commitment to the series over the coming weeks.
Images supplied by Flynn Mullany – Credit: Tayler Bruke
