Start to the GT race season proves reliability and race-winning potential of the new 2013 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
New 2013-spec GT-R debuts in FIA GT Series and British GT Championship season openers, claiming a podium and showing enviable sturdiness against race damage.
Daventry, UK – Following a winter of extensive development, the 2013 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 – built and tested by NISMO’s partner, JRM – has lived up to its promise of providing customer race teams with a solid, reliable, easy to drive, high-performing race car.
In the season-opening championship race of the FIA GT Series in Nogaro, France, the driver pairing of Lucas Ordonez and Alex Buncombe, of Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, claimed a podium for finishing third in the Pro-Am class. Both of the team’s cars ran faultlessly in a highly competitive field.
In the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Oulton Park, UK, Jody Fannin (entered by JRM Racing), a newcomer to the GT3 category, finished just outside the top ten in the second of the weekend’s two races, despite taking a planned 20 second penalty for being the sole driver of the car.
Both teams suffered impact damage through no fault of their own at Nogaro and Oulton Park, jeopardising stronger results. However, the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 was able to be rapidly repaired, prepped and turned around – within just two hours in the case of the second British GT entry driven by Mark Cole, which suffered front end damage taking avoiding action after the car in front dropped fluids onto the track surface.
“We are very pleased with the racing performance and competitiveness of the new Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 and its potential for future victories through the season,” says James Rumsey, JRM Group executive director. “We promised a strong, reliable car that wouldn’t let teams down, amongst all the other variables that can make or break a race weekend, and that is what we have delivered. At JRM Racing, we have been working with the new car and new drivers in an established field of competitors. We now look forward to seeing all our customer teams and drivers bedding in for the season and challenging for wins.”
The Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 car has been substantially upgraded for the 2013 season, receiving a raft of aerodynamic, engine, suspension, brake and gearing updates to enhance performance and durability. A full programme of winter testing has taken place.
The car will make further top level GT championship debuts within the next fortnight. On April 6th/7th, three Nissan customer teams will enter their JRM-built GT-Rs in the Autobacs Super GT1 Series at the Okayama International Circuit in Japan. JRM Racing and the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN will compete in the Blancpain Endurance Series, which kicks off at Monza, Italy, on April 13th/14th.
