NISSAN/NISMO Announce Motor Sports Programs for 2008

No.23 GT-R Aims for Debut Win and Title with Motoyama/Treluyer Pairing

January 31st: NISSAN Motor Co. Ltd and NISSAN Motor Sports International Co. Ltd (NISMO) announced today their motor sport plans for 2008.

The SUPER GT-spec GT-R is based on the NISSAN GT-R that debuted last autumn. Similar to last year's line-up, there will be two factory entries from NISMO, with single entries from HASEMI MOTOR SPORT, TEAM IMPUL, and KONDO RACING. In addition, NISMO president Yuichi Sanada declared, "All teams will run the new GT-R from the opening round of the season."

Mr Kunihiko Kakimoto, General Manager of all the teams in the NISSAN fold, said on the symposium platform: gAfter an interval of five years not racing the GT-R, we're aiming for nothing less than a 'Debut win', the 'Drivers' and 'Team' titles. We feel this is our obligation, and is clearly what the fans want." This season's new-style GT-R is headed for certain victory was the proclamation.

The main development concepts behind the new-for-2008 GT-R are to 'lower the center of gravity, optimize weight distribution by lightening some components, and improve turn-in.' Also, to 'make the best use of the aerodynamic characteristics of the NISSAN GT-R', and to 'decrease drag whilst achieving an improvement in downforce.' Additionally, the maker aims to 'increase output and improve fuel consumption in the VK45 engine.' Particular attention has been paid to improving the car's cornering performance, said Kakimoto: "Cornering speeds have increased, the car's response is better. We want to provide racing that excites both the drivers and the fans. We also want to move the fans and create battles that impress our rivals," he said of the new GT-R and the company's aims for the car this season.

In terms of driver lineups, the No. 23 XANAVI NISMO GT-R features marque stalwart Satoshi Motoyama and welcomes Benoit Treluyer to the lead car. In the sister No. 22 MOTUL AUTECH machine, Michael Krumm is joined by Masataka Yanagida. It's not just the strength of 'ace' Motoyama, but the prospect of combining this quality with the outright 'speed' of newcomer Treluyer that makes for such a lethal combination in the new car, according to NISMO Team Manager Yoshitaka Iijima. gThese are the drivers we chose to win the title in the new GT-R," he asserted after the choice was announced.

At HASEMI MOTOR SPORT, both driers are new. With experience in both the Supra and SC430, the team sees Ronnie Quintarelli join up alongside Naoki Yokomizo, who's back with the squad after a year away from the GT500 class. It's the first time the pair have been in the same car in GTs, but not their first time as teammates. They were long-term stablemates in F3, and there's no doubt about their ability to work well together here.

Likewise at TEAM IMPUL, it's a new pairing, the duo of Tsugio Matsuda and Sebastien Philippe piloting the car this season. On the other hand, KONDO RACING retains its lineup of Joao Paolo de Oliveira and Seiji Ara for the second season in succession. On the tire front, KONDO are the sole Yokahama runner, with all other GT-Rs competing on Bridgestones.

In the GT300 class, it is assumed that privateer teams will continue to campaign the Fairlady Z (Z33). However, no confirmation can be made until announcements from each of the teams are issued.