after incredible Portimão display

Nissan made GT1 World Championship history last weekend by securing a combined five out of the available six podium placings across the Qualifying and Championship Races in Portimão, but, with the fourth race in this year’s series at Germany’s Sachsenring already upon us this weekend, the two teams running the GT-R have had little time to rest on their laurels and savour their achievements.

Instead, JR Motorsports and Sumo Power GT are taking nothing for granted and have been working hard behind the scenes to try and ensure that the momentum and self-belief gained at Portimão continues on into Germany. Though the Sachsenring is a somewhat unknown and untested territory for both teams and their eight drivers, confidence is high that the circuit will deliver even more Nissan joy and success this weekend.

Built in 1927, Sachsenring is one of the oldest circuits on the 2011 GT1 calendar, and should provide a fairly different challenge to the only three years old Portimão circuit. Located in the Saxony region in South-eastern Germany, at 2.299 miles (3.7km), the track is over half a mile shorter than the Portuguese track, with four less turns (14 to Portimão’s 18). The course is renowned for being tight and twisting in the beginning section, with pronounced undulations in the lead up to the start/finish line, meaning a powerful engine is vital to being successful here. Cornering speeds should be slower than the fast pace seen at Portimão.

Looking ahead to his home-country race, Michael Krumm, winner of the Portimão Championship Race in the no.23 JR Motorsports, said: “Obviously I, and all the Nissan drivers, will be going to the Sachsenring full of confidence after the weekend we had in Portugal. I last drove their in 1998, since when the circuit has changed – looking at the new layout it won’t play to the GT-R’s strengths as much as Portimão, but with a bit of luck I see absolutely no reason why we can’t also do very well this weekend.”

Michael’s fellow-German compatriot in the no.23, Lucas Luhr, added: “Like Michael, it’s been a long time since I raced the Sachsenring, but the circuit will hold no fear for us, and we will be looking to score some good points this weekend. It will not be easy carrying the extra weight* on our car for coming first and second in the last races, and it will likely have an impact on our tyre wear, but that’s the price you pay for success – carrying extra weight only means you’re doing things right!”