Motorsports - GT-R LIFE

NISMO Announce 2019 Motorsports Programs

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 17:25:00 +0000

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Formula E and Super GT racing will be among the highlights of Nissan and NISMO’s 2019 motorsports activities, along with the GT3 competition and the supply of engines to prototype sports cars.
Nissan and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. announced the plans today at an event in Yokohama. The event also featured an opportunity for fans to meet this season’s Super GT driver lineup.

Formula E
The ongoing season five of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship is Nissan’s first. Nissan is also the first Japanese company to join the all-electric street racing series.
The company is using Formula E to showcase the performance side of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, its vision for changing the way cars are driven, powered and integrated into society. Nissan has used its years of experience developing and manufacturing the Nissan LEAF – the world’s best-selling electric car – to create a new powertrain package for its Formula E car, including a new electric motor, inverter and gearbox and software.
Nissan’s Sebastien Buemi is the only driver to qualify in the top four in every race this season, most recently claiming the team’s first-ever Formula E pole position in Santiago, Chile. The team heads to Mexico City for the next round of the championship, on Feb. 16.
Team Team principal Drivers 23 Nissan e.dams Jean-Paul Driot Sebastien Buemi (SUI) Driver 22 Oliver Rowland (GBR) Driver - Mitsunori Takaboshi (JPN) Reserve and test driver - Jann Mardenborough (GBR) Simulator driver
“Our Formula E program brings together Nissan’s world-leading experience in electric cars, NISMO’s 30-plus years of motorsports engineering innovation, and the championship-winning Formula E expertise of our racing partner e.dams,” said Michael Carcamo, Nissan’s global motorsports director. “It’s giving Nissan valuable experience and data that will

Super GT GT500
Nissan and NISMO have committed to strengthening their competitiveness in the Super GT GT500 class and recapturing the series championship. To that end, they’ve carried out a significant review of hardware and software.
Motohiro Matsumura, NISMO’s chief operating officer, will assume the role of executive director for the Nissan teams. Toshikazu Tanaka, corporate vice president of NISMO, will become team principal of NDDP Racing. Satoshi Motoyama, who competed in GT500 for 22 years and took home three series championships along with 16 wins for Nissan and NISMO, will support Matsumura as an executive adviser.
The team structures are:
Team　 Team principal Drivers Car name Tire brand 23 NISMO Yutaka Suzuki Tsugio Matsuda (JPN)
Ronnie Quintarelli (ITA) Motul Autech GT-R Michelin 3 NDDP Racing with B-Max Toshikazu Tanaka Kohei Hirate (JPN)
Frederic Makowiecki (FRA) Craftsports Motul GT-R Michelin 12 Team Impul Kazuyoshi Hoshino Daiki Sasaki (JPN)
James Rossiter (GBR) Calsonic Impul GT-R Bridgestone 24 Kondo Racing Masahiko Kondo Mitsunori Takaboshi (JPN)
Jann Mardenborough (GBR) TBA Yokohama

Masahiro Hasemi will retire from serving as a GT500 team principal and will become an honorary member of NISMO.
Enhancements to the 2019-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500 include improvements to the balance of aerodynamic performance, a review of weight distribution, increased engine output and power curve optimization.
“Nissan and NISMO hope to share the joy of motorsports with fans through the pillars of Formula E and Super GT,” said Takao Katagiri, NISMO’s president and chief executive officer. “In Formula E, we will take full advantage of NISMO's accumulated motorsports know-how and pour our resources into supporting Nissan and e.dams. In Super GT, in order to move on from last year’s disappointments and retake the crown, I hope our four teams will come together to meet the expectations of our fans under our new executive director.”

Customer racing programs
Customer racing – GT3 program
This season, Nissan and NISMO welcome Kondo Racing to the list of official partner teams in addition to KCMG and Gainer. NISMO will supply Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 cars and provide technical assistance to even more teams.
Intercontinental GT Challenge
The Intercontinental GT Challenge, featuring major GT3 competitors, includes the Bathurst 12 hours in Australia, the California 8 hours, the Spa 24 hours in Belgium, the Suzuka 10 hours in Japan and the 9 hours of Kyalami in South Africa. KCMG will participate with two 2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 cars.
Team Drivers 18 KCMG Edoardo Liberati (ITA)/Alexandre Imperatori (SUI)/Oliver Jarvis (GBR) 35 Katsumasa Chiyo (JPN)/Tsugio Matsuda *(JPN)/Josh Burdon (AUS)

*except for dates clashing with Super GT

24 Hours of Nurburgring
Two 2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 cars from KCMG and one from Kondo Racing will compete at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in Germany, from June 22 to 23, 2019.
Team Team principal Drivers Tire brand KCMG Paul Ip Edoardo Liberati(ITA)/ Josh Burdon(AUS)/ Philipp Wlazik (GER)/TBA Michelin KONDO RACING Masahiko Kondo Tsugio Matsuda (JPN)/Mitsunori Takaboshi (JPN)/Tomonobu Fujii (JPN)/Tom Coronel (NLD) Yokohama
For Kondo Racing, several technical staff members from NISMO Performance Centers will serve as race mechanics and assist with vehicle maintenance alongside Kondo Racing's professional race mechanics. The centers are Nissan dealers where NISMO road cars and parts are on display, staffed with authorized mechanics known as “NISMO Meisters.”

Super GT GT300 class
Kondo Racing will be a new entry as a GT3 official partner team, in addition to two 2018 models that will compete for Gainer, continuing their efforts from last year. Tomei Sports and X Works will also race using the 2018 model GT-R, while NILZZ Racing will drive a 2015 model GT-R. Six Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 cars will compete in total.
Team Team principal Drivers Car name Tire brand 10 Gainer Kazumi Fujii Kazuki Hoshino/ Keishi Ishikawa Gainer Tanax triple a GT-R Yokohama 11 Katsuyuki Hiranaka/ Hironobu Yasuda Gainer Tanax GT-R Dunlop 56 Kondo Racing Masahiko Kondo Kazuki Hiramine/ Sacha Fenestraz (FRA) Realize Nissan Automobile Technical College GT-R Yokohama
For the past seven years, Kondo Racing has conducted a human resource development project through the Super Taikyu Series, involving students from the Nissan Automobile Technical College. This year, the project is switching to the GT300 class. Rebranded as the Nissan Mechanic Challenge, the expanded project involves not only students but also dealer technical staff.

Super Taikyu Series (Japan)
Several Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 cars will compete in the Super Taikyu Series ST-X class.
Customer racing – engine supply program
Nissan and NISMO will continue to supply racing engines to prototype cars and to provide technical assistance. In the IMSA Daytona Prototype International class, they will supply VR38 engines to CORE Autosport. In addition, they will provide one-make VK50 engines to LMP3 class entrants.

Nissan launches NISSAN LEAF NISMO RC

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 04:56:17 +0000

TOKYO – The all-new Nissan LEAF NISMO RC, an electric race car with more than double the maximum power and torque output of its predecessor, was unveiled today in Tokyo.
The unveiling took place at Nissan Crossing in the city's Ginza district. The car, which was developed by Nissan's racing arm, NISMO, with its race technology know-how, will officially debut on Dec. 2 at the annual NISMO Festival at Fuji International Speedway, appearing alongside Nissan's new Formula E electric race car.
With dual electric motors, all-wheel drive and an aggressive, restyled body shape, the purpose-built car demonstrates how Nissan's electric vehicle technology can deliver exciting yet quiet, zero-emission power – a key component of the company's Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision. The model is equipped with advanced battery technology and drivetrain components from the Nissan LEAF, the world's best-selling electric car.
"The all-new LEAF NISMO RC shows how we're setting our sights even higher when it comes to raw power and performance – making electric vehicles even more exciting for customers," said Executive Vice President Daniele Schillaci, Nissan's global head of marketing, sales and electric vehicles. "It's our most thrilling expression yet of the philosophy of Nissan Intelligent Mobility."
Nissan plans to build six all-new LEAF NISMO RC vehicles to deploy around the world, so that fans can experience the power and excitement firsthand.
The pinnacle of electric power, now with all-wheel-drive
Powering the all-new Nissan LEAF NISMO RC are two electric motors at opposite ends of the chassis. The motors produce 240 kilowatts combined (120 kW each) and an astounding 640 Nm of instant torque to the wheels. They more than double the maximum power and the torque output of the previous LEAF NISMO RC, which was introduced in 2011. Drivetrain technology sourced from the new Nissan LEAF include the high-capacity lithium-ion battery and inverters.
A new all-wheel-drive system gives the LEAF NISMO RC its outstanding cornering prowess. Power is managed independently to each axle, instantly supplying torque to the tire with the most grip to let the car maneuver quickly and efficiently around the track. Similar to the previous model, chassis weight balance has been optimized by the midship location of the battery pack, with the electric motors and inverters ideally placed over the front and rear tires.
The LEAF NISMO RC features a multitude of lightweight components and a full carbon-fiber racing monocoque structure, allowing it to tip the scales at just 1,220 kilograms. The power-to-weight ratio results in an impressive performance of zero to 100 kph in just 3.4 seconds – 50% quicker than the previous model.

Nissan Sport Cup for Gran Turismo Announced

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 03:11:33 +0000

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan is looking for the next generation of fast PlayStation gamers with a new program that gives thousands of racers the chance to compete in an official FIA championship.
The top Nissan drivers in the FIA-certified Gran Turismo Manufacturers Series Championship – conducted on the new Gran Turismo Sport PlayStation game – will win a trip to the NISMO Festival at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan and to the Tokyo headquarters of Polyphony Digital, the developers behind the game. An additional winner from the Nissan GT Sport Cup eracing competition in Europe will also be selected.
Created by Sony PlayStation in partnership with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, the GT Sport championships are the first online esports racing championships sanctioned by the FIA. They come 10 years after the launch of the groundbreaking Nissan PlayStation GT Academy program, which has given gamers the chance to become real-life Nissan race car drivers.
"We proved with the Nissan GT Academy that some of the fastest drivers in the world might never have had the opportunity to compete on a race track if it weren't for gaming," said Nissan's global motorsport director, Michael Carcamo. "These guys have gone from the couch to the cockpit and broken the traditional model of how to become a successful racing driver."
"The level of competition is incredibly fierce," Carcamo added. "And we're now seeing that online racing is not only an alternative to the real thing. To be recognized as an official FIA Manufacturers Series Champion through GT Sport is an incredible opportunity, and we're looking forward to having some of the best gamers in the world represent Nissan."

Nissan GT Sport Cup - Global
The fastest gamer who selects Nissan as their brand in one of the three FIA Manufacturers Series global regions (the Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe/Middle East) will win the trip to Japan. They will also receive bespoke Nissan team clothing and coaching from a Nissan/GT Academy mentor at the World Final.
Nissan GT Sport Cup - Europe
In addition, gamers in Europe who select Nissan as their brand of choice in the FIA Manufacturers Series automatically compete in the Nissan GT Sport Cup.
The Nissan GT Sport Cup competition takes the top 12 Nissan drivers in Europe from June, July and August and brings them to the final round of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in Barcelona in September.
Additionally, the top Nissan gamer in Europe in the FIA Manufacturers Series in June, July and August will win a spot prize to attend a Nissan Training Camp at Silverstone Circuit. There, they'll learn real-world driving skills from mentors.
The 36 gamers and an additional 12 last-chance qualifiers, who can qualify on-site at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, will compete in the ultimate Nissan-powered PlayStation GT Sport battle.
The new virtual competition is an extension of Sony PlayStation's backing of GT Sport Motul Team RJN – the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 customer racing team contesting the 2018 Blancpain Endurance championship.
Lucas Ordonez and Ricardo Sanchez – who are among the 22 people who've graduated from gamers to racers through the GT Academy since the program began – will compete on track with GT Sport Motul Team RJN.

2018 Nissan GTR GT3 on sale to Privateer Racers for...

Thu, 31 May 2018 17:55:19 +0000

Nissan Motorsport International Co., Ltd. (NISMO) is releasing its 2018 model of the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, which is based on the Nissan GT-R (R35) NISMO and conforms to FIA GT3 regulations. (Build-to-order / delivery to begin from around January 2019)
NISMO launched the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 in 2012 and has been supplying it to customers around the world including in Japan, Europe, America, China, and Australia.
The car accumulated several achievements including taking the championship titles in the SUPER GT GT300 class and the Blancpain Endurance Series (currently the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup), along with overall victory in the Bathurst 12 Hour (Australia) in 2015.

The 2018 model that is set for release reflects significant advances made on the base vehicle Nissan GT-R(R35) NISMO, and the lessons learned from accumulated actual race data since the 2015 model was released.
NISMO aimed to create a vehicle that took advantage of all of the GT-R's strengths and was capable of running with stability and speed at any circuit and on any brand of tire.
Specifically, weight distribution has been optimized and the center of gravity lowered by mounting the engine 150mm further back and lower than in the 2015 model. At the same time, the front and rear suspension, along with the cross member have been newly designed to improve the vehicle dynamics.
In addition to vigorous tests carried out in Japan and overseas since April of last year, participation in several series, in cooperation with NISMO's official partner teams this season, has seen the car run a total of approximately 30,000km.
This new vehicle has enhanced competitiveness through improvements in its fundamental performance, at the same time, the new model is easy to handle for both professional and gentleman drivers, and offers significant reliability.

Development features of the 2018 model

Lowered center of gravity and optimized weight distribution through a revision of the vehicle package
Improved dynamics through newly designed suspension
Optimized balance between stable downforce characteristics and drag
Front and rear rigidity (flexural, torsional) improvements and enhanced linearity by utilizing advanced analysis technology
Dry sump system implementation for lowered center of gravity and lubrication reliability
Extended maintenance cycle through a newly designed transmission
Strengthened brakes with increased durability and reliability
An exclusively designed air conditioning system to reduce driver stress and ensure comfort during endurances races, etc. available as an option

Length: 4,832mm Width: 2,036mm Wheelbase: 2,817mm Track front: 1,690mm Track rear: 1,700mm Weight: 1,285kg *1 Engine Model: VR38DETT Displacement: 3,799cc Maximum Power: Over 405kw/6,500rpm（Over 550ps/6,500rpm) *1 Maximum Torque: Over 637Nm/5,000rpm（Over 65.0kgf・m/5,000rpm) *1 Drive System: 2WD (FR) Clutch: Metal. 5.5inch 4-plate Transmission: 6-speed Sequential Blake Front: 6-piston caliper / Ventilated Steel Disc Brake amd pad Brake Rear: 4-piston caliper / Ventilated Steel Disc Brake amd pad Suspention Front: Independent Suspention Double Wishbone Suspention Rear: Independent Suspention Double Wishbone Tyre Front: 330/710-18 Tyre Rear: 330/710-18 Wheel Front: 13.0J~18 Wheel Rear: 13.0J�~18

Nissan announces 2018 motorsports programs

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:07:07 +0000

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan/NISMO today announced their global motorsports plans for 2018, which include Nissan's debut in the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship, as well as updated lineups for the Japanese Super GT Championship.
Formula E
Nissan will be the first Japanese automaker to debut in the Formula E Championship at the start of season five in late 2018. Nissan will reveal its Formula E livery at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March. Further information on the driver lineup and team details will be available later this year.
Starting from season five, teams will compete with a new chassis/battery combination and new powertrains to eliminate the mid-race car swap that was previously a part of Formula E races.
The entry by Nissan, a global leader in electric vehicle technology, is perfectly timed to coincide with new technical regulations for the championship. It's also a high-performance expression of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company's vision for changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society. Nissan makes the world's best-selling electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, and introduced a new version of the zero-emission car in October 2017.

Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500

SUPER GT GT500 Class
Nissan enters four Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500s, aiming to recapture the championships it won in 2014 and 2015. Nissan won five out of eight races in 2016 and missed the 2017 title by a mere 2 points.
Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli, the 2014 and 2015 champions, will again drive NISMO's No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R, marking their fifth straight season as a driving combination. Matsuda is the most successful GT500 driver in the history of the championship, with 19 wins. Quintarelli holds the series record for most championship wins, with four titles.
Making its GT500 class debut, NDDP Racing with B-MAX will pair veteran Satoshi Motoyama with young star Katsumasa Chiyo.
Team IMPUL will feature Daiki Sasaki alongside GT Academy graduate Jann Mardenborough, while 2017 Japanese Formula 3 champion Mitsunori Takaboshi steps up from the GT300 class with Kondo Racing with Joao Paulo de Oliveira.
The 2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500's updates include:

Aerodynamic improvements, including optimization of air flow along the vehicle's center
Enhanced drivability, with increased engine output and improved durability
Revision of all alterable components to optimize the car's potential

2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3

Customer racing programs
This season, the newly evolved, 2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 is available for customers. NISMO will continue customer support for teams running the 2015-spec GT-R NISMO GT3 in the SUPER GT GT300 class and Super Taikyu in Japan.
Racing team GAINER will compete in the SUPER GT GT300 class with two 2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3s. The two-car squad will also debut in the Blancpain GT Asia series with KCMG.

Details on Nissan's participation in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in Europe are expected to be revealed in the near future.
In prototype racing, Nissan, as an engine supplier, will be represented in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Extreme Speed Motorsports (with the GT-R GT3-based VR38 engine) and the FIA World Endurance Championship with ByKOLLES Racing (3.0-liter turbo V6 - VRX30A evo.).
Additionally, teams competing in the LMP3 category around the world will continue to use the Nissan VK50 race engine.

Micra Cup

Other racing programs
In Canada, the Nissan Micra Cup Championship will continue for its fourth season. The Australian Supercars squad will feature Andre Heimgartner, replacing the retired Todd Kelly. Heimgartner joins Rick Kelly, Michael Caruso and Simona De Silvestro at the wheel of their Nissan Altimas.
"Everyone at Nissan and NISMO is very excited about the year ahead," said Michael Carcamo, Nissan's global motorsports director. "Formula E is a great new opportunity for Nissan, and we're looking forward to combining the brand's experience as a market leader for EV technology for the road – and taking that knowledge to the race track.
"We've got a hungry new lineup in Super GT, eager to chase down another championship for Nissan, and an eagerly awaited updated version of the GT-R NISMO GT3 that will race this year.
"On the engine front, in prototype racing, we're the only brand in the world that will power contenders in all the major championships around the world - FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA, European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series."

NISMO aims to farewell the Suzuka 1000km on a high note

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 01:15:33 +0000

SUZUKA, Japan – After finishing second in the past two Super GT rounds, NISMO has its sights set on success at this weekend's Suzuka 1000km in Japan – the final time the GT500 machines will be part of the event.
Satoshi Motoyama and Katsumasa Chiyo finished second at Sugo on July 23, and Ronnie Quintarelli and Tsugio Matsuda took the runner-up spot at Fuji International Speedway on August 6. Quintarelli and Matsuda are currently fifth in the 2017 points – but only three points off the lead.
Motoyama finished on the podium here at Suzuka last year with Mitsunori Takaboshi filling in for the injured Chiyo.
For next season, Suzuka will host a 300km race for the Super GT Championship, with the Suzuka 1000km evolving into a stand-alone 10-hour race for GT3/GT300 spec cars.
First held in 1966, Nissan took its first win in the event in 1970 with Kawakami Nishino and Koji Fujita. Nissan got more wins in 1973 (Kunimitsu Takahashi and Kenji Tohira), 1990 (Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Toshio Suzuki), 1993 (Takao Wada and Toshio Suzuki), 2006 (Benoît Tréluyer, Kazuki Hoshino and Jérémie Dufour), 2008 (Tsugio Matsuda and Sébastien Philippe), and 2012 (Masataka Yanagida and Ronnie Quintarelli).
GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough will race a GT500 at Suzuka for the first time this weekend. He enters this weekend with teammate Hiro Yasuda after finishing fifth at Fuji.
"Suzuka is one of the old school circuits, and the track hasn't been altered since its original design," said Mardenborough. "Sector one is great. Turn one is so fast. The entry speed with a GT500 car is so fast in turns one and two. Sector two through 130R is also fun, especially working through traffic with the GT300s. At the last race, I started ninth and managed to pass a few cars early. I was fighting with Chiyo-san and Nick Cassidy and managed to pass Heikki Kovalainen – an ex-F1 driver – so that was pretty cool. We finished fifth which was a good result. We're not where we need to be but we're getting closer."
This weekend's race at Suzuka will again be steamed live online with English commentary from NISMO TV's Sam Collins and GT Academy mentor, Rob Barff. The race will start at 12:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, August 27 / 5:30 a.m. EU time / 4:30 a.m. UK time. In the U.S., the race begins Saturday, August 26 at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and 8:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Watch at NISMO.tv.

NISMO TV: Riding Shotgun in a GT500 GTR

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 19:33:50 +0000

Find out what it feels like to ride in a 530+hp GT500 car with Tsugio Matsuda at the wheel. The 2013 Nissan Nismo Motul Autech GT-R GT500 had an extra seat put in so Sam could experience one of the fastest passenger laps ever!

PODIUM FOR SANCHEZ IN PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 19:26:06 +0000

Utah Motorsports Campus, Salt Lake City, UT, USA – Former GT Academy winner Ricardo Sanchez has charged to another podium result in Pirelli World Challenge SprintX competition, scoring a second-placed finish with Frankie Montecalvo yesterday.
Montecalvo scored the Pro/Am class pole on Saturday but the first race for the duo was ruined by a puncture.
Sanchez made amends on Sunday. After starting 18th, the Mexican earned the award for the best start of the race, moving into the top ten within two laps.
He handed over to Montecalvo at half race distance and the American drove the Always Evolving / AIM Autosport Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 across the finish line in third place.
However, a penalty applied to the class winner elevated Sanchez and Montecalvo to second.
"We were very unlucky with the flat tyre on Saturday after having started on pole," Sanchez said.
"We had to recover a lot of positions on Sunday, starting 18th overall and eighth in class. We spent a lot of time discussing the strategy and the plan was certainly to be aggressive on the start.
"I went inside first, then outside and managed to grab eight positions in the first two laps to move into the top 10 and fourth in the Pro/Am class.
"We ended up P2 at the end because the class winner had to serve a drive-through penalty. It was a really good day. We were a little unlucky with the safety car as well. We were right behind the eventual class winner so we came very close to getting the win."
The final round of the Pirelli World Challenge SprintX Championship will be held at Circuit of The Americas on September 1-3.

2018 NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3 Unveiled

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 03:14:04 +0000

Yokohama, Japan: NISMO has completed a shakedown of the newly-evolved Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 that has been built in accordance with FIA GT3 regulations.
The first test for the for the new car took place on April 11-12 at Fuji International Speedway where development drivers, Masataka Yanagida and Michael Krumm were joined by Mitsunori Takaboshi, who is competing in this season’s Super GT GT300 class driving the current model Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.

Additional tests will take place in both Japan and Europe to develop the new GT-R which will replace the current specification car which is competing in championships around the world in 2017 including Super GT GT300 in Japan, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup throughout Europe and Pirelli World Challenge in the USA.
“It was amazing how all the systems worked so well right from the beginning and the potential for making further improvements is very high," said Michael Krumm.
"As this car will be used worldwide by a variety of drivers with different styles, I want to work hard to ensure that it is possible to drive it safely at high speeds. I’m looking forward to the next tests.”

Details regarding the car's debut were revealed this morning in Japan along with the date for this year's 20th anniversary of the NISMO Festival at Fuji Speedway.
This year's event – again supported by NISMO partner Motul – will take place on Sunday, November 26.

Always Evolving Returns to PWC with New Driver Line Up

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:30:37 +0000

YOKOHAMA, Japan: The Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 will return to the Pirelli World Challenge Championship in 2017 in the two-driver SprintX events with Always Evolving/Aim Autosport.
Mexican ace and former GT Academy winner Ricardo Sanchez will team up with young American star Frankie Montecalvo for a single car title assault starting at the first SprintX round at Virginia International Raceway on April 29 and 30.
The GT-R NISMO GT3 was a race winner in Pirelli World Challenge competition last year with another GT Academy winner Bryan Heitkotter taking a pair of wins at the Utah Motorsports Campus.
Sanchez heads to the US championship after spending the past two seasons racing in Europe in the Blancpain GT Series with Nissan.
“After racing for the past two years in Europe, it’s really exciting to get the chance to race the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 in the US,” Sanchez said.
“It’s a completely new chapter for me. I’ve got a whole new set of tracks to learn but the GT-R has been really strong in the U.S. and I’m looking forward to continuing my career in a new country.”
Sanchez has been preparing for his US debut by going back to his racing roots.
“I have been training on most of the tracks in the simulator and I’ve been looking at on-board videos from VIR,” Sanchez said.

“I think the GT-R could be really strong there because of the fast corners and the track is really quick. I really can’t wait. I know the car well and Frankie knows the tracks – I think we’ll make a great combination.”

Montecalvo is no stranger to success in the Pirelli World Challenge Championship, the American driver won the GTA class championship in the series in 2015 with seven victories. His racing resume also includes two assaults on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a full season in the European Le Mans Series in 2013 and runner-up finish at the Dubai 24 Hours.
“I’m very excited to team up with Always Evolving and AIM Autosport in the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 for the Sprint X Series,” Montecalvo said.
“I’ve always been a fan of the GT-R, both as a racecar and the streetcar version, and I’m very, very excited to be working together this year."

The SprintX Championship began last season with a limited number of races. For 2017, there will be 10 races over the course of five weekends – following a similar format to the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup which Sanchez raced in last season for Nissan in Europe.

Statement from Always Evolving

“We are excited to be back in PWC with Nissan / NISMO,” said Erik Davis, team owner of Always Evolving Motorsport. "Always Evolving has been associated with the series for many years and the level of competition continues to amaze me year-over-year. Our team is ready to come back in winning form. We look forward to competing with an all-new car and two great drivers to take on the Sprint-X format kicking off at VIR, home track of Nissan North America.”
The Sprint-X Championship was initiated in 2016 with a limited number of races and in 2017 there will be 10 races over the course of five weekends. This new format provides new challenges for teams given a mandatory driver exchange with the same excitement of sprint racing Pirelli World Challenge is known for. The pit stop will allow strategy to play a greater role in the racing results.
The team will return to World Challenge competition at Virginia International Raceway on April 29-30.
Sanchez heads to the U.S. championship after spending the past two seasons racing in Europe in the Blancpain GT Series with Nissan.
“After racing for the past two years in Europe, it’s really exciting to get the chance to race the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 in the US,” Sanchez said. “It’s a completely new chapter for me. I’ve got a whole new set of tracks to learn but the GT-R has been really strong in the U.S. and I’m looking forward to continuing my career in a new country.”
Sanchez has been preparing for his US debut by going back to his racing roots.
“I have been training on most of the tracks in the simulator and I’ve been looking at on-board videos from VIR,” Sanchez said. “I think the GT-R could be really strong there because of the fast corners and the track is really quick. I really can’t wait. I know the car well and Frankie knows the tracks – I think we’ll make a great combination.”
Montecalvo is no stranger to success in the Pirelli World Challenge Championship. The American driver won the GTA class championship in the series in 2015 with seven victories. His racing resume also includes two assaults on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a full season in the European Le Mans Series in 2013 and runner-up finish at the Dubai 24 Hours. “I’m very excited to team up with Always Evolving and AIM Autosport in the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 for the Sprint X Series,” Montecalvo said. “I’ve always been a fan of the GT-R, both as a racecar and the streetcar version, and I’m very, very excited to be working together this year with one of the best teams in the championship."
Based in Los Angeles, Always Evolving is an automotive lifestyle and motorsport brand with deep roots in entertainment. Born out of pure passion, and driven to give back, Always Evolving Motorsport has developed into a globally recognized brand. From movies and television, to racetracks around the world, Always Evolving continues to grow and expand its reach. Always Evolving Motorsport has participated in Pirelli World Challenge, Blancpain GT, IndyCar, Rally America, Formula Drift, Stadium Super Trucks, and the Australian Bathurst 12hr.

2017 Super GT Season to Stream on NISMO.TV

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 23:37:26 +0000

YOKAHAMA, Japan – This year's Japanese Super GT championship battle will be shown live on YouTube across the globe on NISMO.TV.
The championship kicks off this weekend at Okayama in Japan with Ronnie Quintarelli and Tsugio Matsuda aiming to repeat their 2016 victory.
The new-look GT500 class this season features new cars with less downforce than was used previously compared to the 2014-2016 spec cars.
Nissan dominated during that period including another strong season in 2016:

Victory in 12 of the 24 races staged from 2014-2016
Three GT-R entries won races in 2016
Championship success in 2014 and 2015
Victory in five of the eight races in 2016

NISMO.TV coverage can be seen on YouTube everywhere around the world outside of Japan. The coverage is a huge bonus for Nissan's international Super GT drivers including Quintarelli (Italy), JP de Oliveira (Brazil) and GT500 newcomer Jann Mardenborough (United Kingdom).
"Fans in Japan have of course known about the spectacular action that happens in Super GT, but thanks to NISMO.TV we've been able to share that with Nissan and NISMO fans around the world," said Quintarelli. "When I'm racing here in Japan, I am of course a long way from home in Italy, so it is brilliant for my friends, family and fans to be able to watch every race live. Tsugio (Matsuda) and I will hopefully give everyone something to cheer about. We missed out on the championship last year, but we're very keen to grab it back in 2017."
Former GT Academy winner Mardenborough will team with Hironobu Yasuda this season in his GT500 debut aboard the No.12 Calsonic IMPUL GT-R.
"I can't wait to get started in GT500 for the first race at Okayama," said Mardenborough. "Testing has been great, but I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into the race season. To have the entire year live on NISMO.TV on YouTube is brilliant too. I've had my family friends come over and see me race in the championship last year, but the fact the entire season will be live around the world is awesome. I'm really looking forward to joining forces with Hironobu (Yasuda), getting our Calsonic IMPUL GT-R to the front of the pack, and giving it our best shot for the fans."

AMS ALPHA G GTR Sets New World Record with 6 Sec 1/4 Mile

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 05:54:53 +0000

The number 6 has been the "Holy Grail" among the Elite in the GTR community for years. It was thought to maybe be something out of reach for the R35 platform. This weekend at TX2K 2017 IT HAPPENED. The AMS team and car owner/driver Gidi reached that pinnacle. An achievement that has been long sought after taking every shop that pursued it down that same hard road of setbacks broken cars and untold amounts of money and time spent. The WORLD Record of 6.937 @196/27 set by Gidi is a remarkable feat and appropriate bookend to the shop and driver who was also the first GTR in the 9s 8s and 7s.

Check out the video of the moment below!

2017 GT-R GT3 MOTUL TEAM RJN Livery Announced

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 17:41:24 +0000

NISMO Announce Global Motorsport Program for 2017

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:22:49 +0000

YOKOHAMA, Japan – The 2017 motorsport season is about to start, and on behalf of Nissan, Takao Katagiri, CEO and president of NISMO, has now officially announced Nissan/NISMO's motorsport activities for 2017. These are as follows:
1. SUPER GT GT500
With sights firmly set on reclaiming the GT500 championship title, Nissan/NISMO will field four newly developed Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500 entries in 2017.
Having won the SUPER GT GT500 Championship two years in a row in 2014 and 2015, but missing out on a third consecutive title after leading the championship until the last event in 2016, NISMO will be back at the track with the driver pairing of Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli in Nissan's ace car #23.
Fresh from the GT300 class, GT Academy graduate Jann Mardenborough will step up to GT500, making his GT500 debut with TEAM IMPUL together with teammate Hironobu Yasuda. For the first time in seven years, João Paulo de Oliveira will return to KONDO Racing, which took two victories last year, and will team up with Daiki Sasaki. MOLA will continue with the same strong driver combination from last year, with veteran Satoshi Motoyama challenging the series alongside young gun Katsumasa Chiyo.
Toshikazu Tanaka, corporate vice president of NISMO, remains as Nissan's team executive director. The complete roster:
#23 - NISMO - Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli
Team Principal: Yutaka Suzuki
MOTUL AUTECH GT-R / Michelin
#12 - TEAM IMPUL - Hironobu Yasuda / Jann Mardenborough
Team Principal: Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Calsonic IMPUL GT-R / Bridgestone
#24 - KONDO Racing - Daiki Sasaki / João Paulo de Oliveira
Team Principal: Masahiko Kondo
Forum Engineering ADVAN GT-R / Yokohama
#46 - MOLA - Satoshi Motoyama / Katsumasa Chiyo
Team Principal: Toshiomi Oeki
S Road CRAFTSPORTS GT-R / Michelin
Nissan's new GT500 racer, which incorporates the distinctive design of the standard 2017 Nissan GT-R NISMO, was developed in compliance with the 2017 SUPER GT technical regulations and inherits the competitive and hard-charging spirit of previous incarnations of the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500.
Officially revealed last November, the car has undergone testing in Japan as well as in Sepang, Malaysia. The updates will be made just before the opening round and are expected to result in an even stronger, more competitive GT-R

2. CUSTOMER RACING PROGRAMS
Nissan / NISMO will be expanding its Customer Racing program, supplying race cars and engines to teams around the globe.
Customer Racing - GT3 Program
The Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 debuted in 2012, and since then 33 cars have been sold to compete in Japan, Europe, the U.S., Australia and China – 20 of which participated in global GT3 race series in 2016. The car took numerous victories world-wide and in the Super Taikyu Series; the GT3 GT-R was crowned ST-X class champion. In 2017, NISMO will continue to support Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 customers by providing vehicles and technical assistance.
While providing technical support to all the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 users in SUPER GT, Super Taikyu, and other championships, Nissan / NISMO will support the teams in the following series:
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
Nissan/NISMO will continue to support the Bob Neville managed Team RJN NISSAN in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup (Pro Class). The driver lineup once again uses drivers from Nissan's global motorsport family. The 2015 championship winning pair of Katsumasa Chiyo and Alex Buncombe will team up with GT Academy's inaugural winner in 2008, Lucas Ordóñez.
# 23 Team RJN NISSAN - Katsumasa Chiyo / Alex Buncombe / Lucas Ordóñez
Team Principal: Bob Neville
Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 / Pirelli
Super GT GT300
NDDP Racing, which focuses on the development of young drivers, will enter the SUPER GT GT300 class with Mitsunori Takaboshi alongside Kazuki Hoshino as his mentor. The operation continues to be managed by B-MAX.
#3 - NDDP RACING - Kazuki Hoshino / Mitsunori Takaboshi
Team Principal: Masahiro Hasemi
B-MAX NDDP GT-R / Yokohama
Super Taikyu Series ST-X
KONDO Racing, which took the 2016 series championship with its ThreeBond Nissan Technical College GT-R, will be aiming for two consecutive titles in the ST-X class this year. Tomonobu Fujii has been named as one of the drivers. This collaboration between KONDO Racing and the Nissan Automobile Technical College is a unique program that combines education with motorsports.
ST-X – #24 – KONDO Racing - Tomonobu Fujii / TBA
Team Principal: Masahiko Kondo
ThreeBond Nissan Technical College GT-R
Development of Newly Evolved Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 (R35)
Nissan/NISMO will be developing a newly evolved Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 (R35), with an eye towards 2018, in order to greatly enhance its competitiveness in the increasingly fierce GT3 market. Masataka Yanagida and Michael Krumm will serve as development drivers and development will be undertaken while carrying out tests in both Japan and Europe.
Customer Racing - Engine Supply Programs
Nissan/NISMO will be expanding its engine supply programs. Newly introduced programs include IMSA's Daytona Prototype international (DPi) and LM P1 engine supply to a privateer for the FIA World Endurance Series (WEC). Domination in the WEC LM P2 class ended in championship success last year after 37 wins total over the past five seasons, and the company will keep supplying LM P3 engines as sole engine supplier of the globally growing class.

IMSA Daytona Prototype international (DPi)
A new program sees Nissan/NISMO supplying a GT3 spec based VR38 engine prepared for Daytona Prototype international (DPi) cars to Extreme Speed Motorsport (ESM), based in Florida, USA. The team takes part in the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with two cars.

FIA World Endurance Championship LM P1
Another new program has Nissan/NISMO supplying a V6 Turbo 3.0 liter engine (VRX30A evo.) to ByKolles Racing Team, a private team based in Greding, Germany. The team will take part in the LM P1 class of the FIA WEC in 2017.

LM P3 Series
NISMO will continue to provide VK50 engines (111 units sold in the past three years) and technical assistance to teams competing in the LM P3 class of European Le Mans Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup, and Asian Le Mans Series etc. With a boom in the LM P3 class continuing this year, Nissan's presence on the grid will be significantly increased as the manufacturer looks to dominate once again.

3. DRIVER DEVELOPMENT
Nissan/NISMO continue to support young drivers' participation in race series.
In addition to the previously listed entry to the SUPER GT GT300 class, the manufacturer will support Mitsunori Takabosi and his B-MAX Racing Team Japanese Formula 3 entry via NDDP. As Takaboshi's executive advisor, the team will welcome GT500 driver, Satoshi Motoyama.
#23 – B-MAX Racing Team with NDDP - Mitsunori Takaboshi
Team Principal: Masashi Miyata
Executive Advisor: Satoshi Motoyama
B-MAX NDDP F3
4. OTHER NOTABLE ACTIVITIES: AUSTRALIA SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP
In Australia, Nissan will continue to contest the Supercars Championship with Rick and Todd Kelly alongside Michael Caruso and new driver Simona de Silvestro with the Nissan Altima.
5. PROGRAM SUMMARY
Takao Katagiri, CEO and president of NISMO:
"We will be competing in this year's SUPER GT GT500 class with a new model based upon the 2017 spec GT-R NISMO. We have a firm determination to retake the series championship and, with this in mind, we have reevaluated our cars, drivers, organization and so on in order to ensure we are more prepared than ever. Our team structure consists of four seriously competitive teams that will all be aiming for the title. We will be pouring our souls into this season so we hope to continue to receive the passionate support that we have received from our fans thus far.
"We will also be strengthening our global Customer Racing programs. While we continue to support Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 customers around the world, we will also begin working on the development of newly evolved Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3. You can expect to see a new state-of-the-art, highly competitive machine that will ensure customers continue to choose the GT-R from amongst the increasingly large variety of European manufacturers and other rival companies' GT3 vehicles.
"Furthermore, we will also be expanding our engine supply programs. We will be providing highly competitive racing engines and the technical support that we have cultivated throughout the LM P2 to numerous teams to facilitate their success in acclaimed race categories around the world, including the Daytona Prototype International (DPi), the LMP1 (privateer), and various LMP3 series.
"In addition to participating in motorsports, the NISMO brand feels that an important part of its mission is to provide accessible motorsports experiences and participatory opportunities to all of our customers. As a part of that effort we have been proactively expanding our range of NISMO road cars and occasions for driving experiences. We are committed to delivering a wide range of excitement to our fans through motorsports."

Nissan Finishes 8th After 12 Grueling Hours at Mount Pa...

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 18:39:39 +0000

BATHURST, Australia – It was a day of high emotion and high drama for the Nissan Motorsport team during the 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama today.
After a weekend of turbulence for the No.24 Nissan Genuine Oils GT-R NISMO GT3, drivers Jann Mardenborough, Todd Kelly and Florian Strauss were amongst the front runners for more than half of the race, leading the event at different times.
The performance came after the car was heavily damaged in an accident in Friday practice and the team worked through the night to repair the car in time for Saturday qualifying.
The team's great work came unstuck when the car became stuck in fourth gear with five hours remaining. It took the crew three laps to rectify the problem, eventually returning to the circuit in 10th place.
The No.24 car demonstrated stunning speed towards the end of the race with former Nissan GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough at the wheel. The Welshman set the No.24's fastest lap of the race on his penultimate lap – a time of 2:03.309, the third fastest lap of the race.
He also set the fastest first sector of any car in the field on the final lap.
The No.23 GT-R had a frustrating day when a broken floor and transmission issue halted the car's progress in the opening hour. Alex Buncombe started the race and quickly charged into the top 10 before the initial problems struck.
Katsumasa Chiyo was at the wheel in his first stint when the car went back into the garage for repairs. Australian Supercars driver Michael Caruso wasn't able to get any race laps until the car's return to the track with just under five hours remaining.
Despite an extended stay in the pits, the No.23 completed 174 laps and be classified 32nd overall and eighth in class.

NISMO Prepares to Return to Victory in Bathurst 12hr

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 01:33:27 +0000

Nissan will once again compete in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour race next weekend Feb 3-5
Entering the classic GT endurance race with two cars, Nissan has selected 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour winner Katsumasa Chiyo, experienced Bathurst campaigner Alex Buncombe, and local gun Michael Caruso to drive the #23 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3. Fellow 2015 race winner Florian Strauss will be joined by Jann Mardenborough and Todd Kelly in car #24.
Japanese star Chiyo has been one of the most popular drivers at the race in recent years, with his on-track flair and his off-track personality proving a winner with the fans.
Chiyo's co-drivers, Buncombe and Caruso, will prove to be one of the fastest line-ups in the competitive 61-car field.
The #24 car sees 2005 Bathurst 1000 winner Todd Kelly joined by two GT Academy stars that have made the most of their "gamer to racer" status. Strauss needs no introduction to Bathurst having finished first and second in his two attempts (2015 and 2016).
Mardenborough is regarded as one of the best GT Academy talents to filter through the system and starred in his first season in Japan last year in Super GT and Formula 3; he will be one to watch as he makes his Mount Panorama debut.
The Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 has been a dominant global performer in recent years, having tasted championship success in both Europe and Japan and as well as winning races in Australia and the U.S.
The 2017 "once-around-the-clock" race will be the fourth-straight year that Nissan has entered the race with a fully fledged factory effort. In 2014, Alex Buncombe, Wolfgang Reip, Rick Kelly and Katsumasa Chiyo failed to finish after Chiyo was involved in an early morning incident at the top of the mountain.
Vowing to make amends, Chiyo, Reip and Florian Strauss made international headlines with victory in 2015, defeating a strong line-up of international and local competitors.
Last year, Chiyo, Rick Kelly and Florian Strauss went within a whisker of repeating the feat, finishing second to the McLaren entry.
The 2017 Nissan entry marks the first time that the manufacturer has entered two cars in the race. The two GT-R NISMO GT3s will be prepared by a combination of engineers, mechanics and staff from Japanese-based NISMO International, Team RJN from the UK and the local Nissan Motorsport Supercars team.

2017 Spec Super GT GTR NISMO UNVEILED!

Fri, 11 Nov 2016 20:25:56 +0000

No Words Needed

Podium performance for GT-R in N�rburgring Blancpain

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 19:02:23 +0000

Nürburgring, Germany – Nissan athletes and GT-R NISMO GT3 drivers Lucas Ordóñez, Mitsunori Takaboshi and Alex Buncombe stormed to a podium finish with third place in the final round of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup at the Nürburgring yesterday.
Qualifying was delayed and later shortened to just a single driver session thanks to fog at the Nürburgring, and Alex Buncombe pulled out a strong lap put the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 11th on the grid.
Lucas Ordóñez made a storming start to go around the outside at the first corner to slot into sixth place. He continued to make progress to eventually hand over the car to Mitsunori Takaboshi in third place.

The Japanese driver continued the strong pace throughout his stint before handing over to Alex Buncombe.
After finishing third here last year in the same event, Buncombe began to reel in the two race leaders in the closing laps to be only 1.9 seconds off the race winner at the checkered flag.
The podium finish was the first in European competition for Takaboshi and the first for Nissan this year in the Blancpain Series – beating the fourth place finish at Monza and fifth at Circuit Paul Ricard.
"We had to save our brakes during our stints because the Grand Prix Course of Nürburgring was hard for brake, but all three drivers were fast and the team did fantastic jobs at pit stops," said Takaboshi said. "I am really happy to get on the podium. I am not 100 percent satisfied, as there are higher places to go, but third place is very valuable that was earned by the whole team."
The No.22 GT-R of Sean Walkinshaw and GT Academy aces Matt Simmons and Romain Sarazin were disappointed after qualifying when a red flag ruined Walkinshaw's "hot" lap – pushing the team back to 41st on the grid.
The trio were strong in the race however, moving up 10 positions to eventually finish 31st.
Next up for the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN squad will be the final sprint round of the season in Barcelona on October 1-2.

First Look at 2017 Super GT GTR NISMO

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 18:49:57 +0000

Spy shots of the 2017 spec Super GT GT500 Nissan GTR have surfaced showing some Aerodynamic changes and ties to the 2017 GTR NISMO roadcar. First you will see the presence of the "V-Motion Grill" and an extended horizontal body line under the headlight that is shared on the redesign of the GTR roadcar. Super GT uses DTM spec rules so there are some elements of the cars that must be shared among Nissan Honda and Lexus. Despite these constraints the update show a distinct GTR persona that now mimics some of what is seen on the recent changes to the GTR model. The Super GT GTR will still use a Turbo 2.0 4-Cylinder known as the NR20A

Super GT: Round 6 Suzuka 1000km 8/27

Thu, 25 Aug 2016 05:14:42 +0000

SUZUKA, Japan – Round 6 of the Autobacs Super GT 2016 season – the "45th International Suzuka 1000km" – will be held from August 27 to 28 at Suzuka Circuit in Japan. At 1000km, this race is over three times as long as the majority of rounds in the series and is often held under blistering summer heat, making it arguably the toughest race of the season. Series organizers held tests at Suzuka Circuit at the beginning of July, and preparations are all set for this red-hot, drawn out race.
In this, the third year since new regulations were introduced, the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500 has been maintaining its formidable performance. Aiming for three consecutive series titles, the Michelin tire sporting #1 NISMO of Tsugio Matsuda/Ronnie Quintarelli achieved back-to-back victories in the opening round and round 2. Riding on Yokohama tires, the #24 Kondo Racing of Daiki Sasaki/Masataka Yanagida followed this up with a win in round 4, while Hironobu Yasuda/Joao Paulo Lima De Oliveira's Bridgestone tire wearing #12 Team Impul took the top spot in round 5 held the other day. Having taken victory in every race since the opening round, the might of the GT-R has been reaffirmed once again (round 3 at Autopolis was cancelled).
The first day of testing in July was held under dry weather, while the second day was wet. The teams were able to attain a great deal of data under a variety of conditions. This is obviously not just the case for the four Nissan teams; their rivals were able to achieve the same. The Lexus RC F has taken victory here for the last two years, while the Honda NSX calls this course its home ground, so the rival camps will be hungry for glory going into this round and cannot be underestimated.
In the GT300 class, Kazuki Hoshino, who has experience taking victory in the Suzuka 1000km in the GT500 class, teams up with GT Academy graduate Jann Mardenborough in the #3 NDDP Racing. They will be battling alongside defending champion, #0 Gainer that won at last year's Suzuka 1000km, and all eyes will be on these two as they head up a group of four Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3s. This is the fifth season for the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 since its debut.