TOKYO (February 27, 2009) - Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports
International Co., Ltd. (NISMO) today announced their global motorsport
programme for 2009.
For 2009, Nissan continues to participate in the SUPER GT series, GT500
class, which is the highest level in Japanese domestic motorsports, with
the Nissan GT-R. Nissan will also support grassroots activities in select
countries outside of Japan to help nurture the motorsports culture, which
has millions of fans throughout the world.
“Motorsports is an important part of Nissan’s strategy for building a
strong brand with consumers who share our passion for high-performance
driving,” said Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co.
Ltd. “In addition to being an important touch-point for consumers,
motorsports serve as a dynamic proving ground for automotive innovation.”
1. SUPER GT
Vehicles
The R35 model Nissan GT-R will be entered in the GT500 class of SUPER GT.
This year’s entries will incorporate changes that include an improved air-
cooling system and a paddle-shift transmission. The vehicles also conform
to the racing body’s latest regulation changes to decrease down force
through shortened vehicle overhang. NISMO provides technical assistance and
vehicle development to all participating teams.
Team Composition
This year’s line-up of NISMO, HASEMI MOTORSPORT, TEAM IMPUL and KONDO
RACING will deploy 1 car each for a total of 4 Nissan GT-Rs that will race
in the GT500 class series. Kunihiko Kakimoto remains as general manager in
charge of Nissan related teams with the NISMO team managed by Yutaka
Suzuki. HASEMI MOTOR SPORT team welcomes to its roster Hironobu Yasuda, who
trained in the rigorous Nissan Driver Development Program (NDDP).
Car
No:Entrant:Team Manager:Drivers:Vehicle Name: Tyre Maker
1:NISMO:Yutaka Suzuki:Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer:MOTUL AUTECH GT-
R:Bridgestone
3:HASEMI MOTOR SPORT:Masahiro Hasemi:Ronnie Quintarelli/Hironobu
Yasuda:TBA:Michelin
12:TEAM IMPUL:Kazuyoshi Hoshino:Tsugio Matsuda/Sebastien Philippe:IMPUL
Calsonic GT-R:Bridgestone
24:KONDO RACING:Masahiko Kondo:Joao Paulo de Oliveira /Seiji
Ara:HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R:Yokohama
2. Private racers category
1） March Cup series
Providing amateur racers a chance to experience the thrill of auto racing,
Nissan holds the March Cup races (East Japan Series, West Japan Series,
Nissan March Championship Cup). This pits private racers with actual racing
conditions, with each car equipped with a data logger and GPS to record the
racing lines taken by drivers. As previously announced, 2009 is the final
run for the March Cup series.
2） Japanese domestic private teams
1. SUPER GT GT300 class
Technical assistance will be given to private teams competing in
Fairlady Zs.
2. Super Taikyu series
Technical assistance will be given to private teams competing in Fairlady
Zs in both ST1 and ST3 classes.
3） Global Race activities
China
Aiming for a 3rd championship win, Nissan and NISMO will provide technical
assistance to its China partner Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd., which enters its
Nissan Tiidas in the 1600cc Class of the China Circuit Championship (CCC).
The event is the country’s premier domestic racing event, where locally
manufactured production-based race cars compete. Nissan Tiida won the title
in 2006 and 2008.
South Africa
With 8 consecutive Driver’s championship wins, Nissan seeks to retain its
title in the South Africa Off-Road Championship. Dominating the event will
be the Nissan Navara, well known for its controlled performance and rugged
reliability.
Europe
To check the performance of cars to be sold to racing teams competing in
the FIA-GT1 class, a NISMO-developed car will run as a non-championship
entry in 4 races in 2009, entered in a team partnership with Gigawave
MotorSport. It is expected that the car is to be driven by Michael Krumm
(NISMO) and Darren Turner (Gigawave).
