12-09-14

Nissan GT Academy Season 4 | Episode 3: No Man Left Behind

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After three successful seasons on television and at the racetrack, Nissan GT Academy returns to U.S. television for its fourth season, looking for North America's next professional racer who will make the jump from the virtual racing world of PlayStation®3 racing simulator Gran Turismo®6 to the cockpit of a real racing car on the racetrack.
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09-27-14

The Nissan 370Z – One of the Top Cars that Dominates Both Road and Track According to AutoTrader

The Nissan 370Z  - one of the top cars that dominates both road and track according to AutoTrader

 

Almost as soon as cars were invented, people were racing them -- the same way they raced horses, and the same way they raced on foot. The Encyclopedia Britannica states that the first organized motor race in the United States was on Thanksgiving Day, 1895, running from Chicago to Evanston, IL, and back. Not only are motorsports a whole lot of fun, they also improve automotive technology and drum up sales. AutoTrader lists the Nissan 370Z  as one of the cars that owes at least part of their fine reputations to the laudable human trait of wanting to do better than the next guy.

“Most drivers try not to move their cars sideways. But in the sport of drifting, sideways is the only way to go. Big, tire-smoking power slides from one end of the course to the other -- it's a fabulous spectacle. Formula Drift is an import from Japan, and perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the participating cars are also Japanese imports. The current 2014 Formula Drift leader is American Chris Forsberg, driving a Nissan 370Z. It's perfect for drifting, because it has a front-engine/rear-drive layout resulting in a fine balance of weight between the front and back. A carbon fiber drive shaft transmits engine power to the rear wheels, meaning it gets lighter weight and quicker responses than it would with a regular metal shaft.”

Do you have a need for speed? The Nissan 370Z is available at all 7 Mossy Nissan locations.

Find yours today!

 

Credit:

http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/best-cars/227332/9-cars-that-dominate-both-street-and-track.jsp

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09-20-14

Jack Daniel’s Racing Set for Sandown Enduro; Norton Hornets Eager to Kick Off V8 Enduro Cup

Jack Daniel's Racing set for Sandown enduro; Norton Hornets eager to kick off V8 Enduro Cup

September 2014 test

 

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia – Following a pair of promising rounds and a successful test day, the Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altimas are set for the first two-driver endurance race of the season, the Sandown 500.

Teaming up with Todd Kelly aboard the number 7 machine is Nissan factory driver Alex Buncombe, who will be making his V8 Supercars debut at the event.

The Brit tested with Jack Daniel's Racing at the season opening Sydney Motorsport Park test day, with the event following on from his debut in the Bathurst 12 Hour, where he partnered Rick Kelly in a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3.

No stranger to endurance racing, Buncombe utilized the varied conditions at the recent Winton Raceway test day to familiarize himself further with the V8 Supercar Altima.

Rick Kelly meanwhile will team up with experienced co-driver David Russell, who is lining up for his fourth successive endurance race tilt with Jack Daniel's Racing.

Like Buncombe, Russell has extensive recent experience in GT3 competition, both domestically and internationally.

Both of the Kelly brothers have form on the board at Sandown, with Todd winning the 2003 Sandown 500 alongside Mark Skaife, while Rick was victorious in 2011 for Jack Daniel's Racing, when he blitzed the field in the wet, winning from pole position.

On track action kicks off on September 12 with three practice sessions, followed by a final practice, a 20 minute qualifying session and two 20 lap qualifying races on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's 500km long race.

Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"It's shaping up really well. There are a lot of positives in having Alex on board. It's a fresh approach to teaming up with someone who hasn't had a lot of miles in our cars. He's a perfect size as far as seat fit is concerned, we haven't really had to modify anything, the driver changes are good, and all of those things are shaping up well. Following our test day at Winton, where he had a little bit of dry and a little bit of wet running, practice starts and pit stops, all of the things he needs to know, he had a good run at. He got to the point where he was pretty comfortable in the car. I'm looking forward to Sandown; it's a good home event, and it's close to home and close to the race shop. Hopefully we can have a good clean weekend, the cars should be pretty good around that place, over the curbs and over the different sections of track, whether it's wet or dry. We're looking forward to it."

Alex Buncombe - #7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

It's a fantastic opportunity for me. Thanks to Nissan and everyone involved who has been able to make this possible. I can't wait to get to Sandown for race weekend. It's been good to get a test in at Winton, and get a bit of experience in the car. We had both dry and wet weather running, and with a reasonable chance of getting those conditions at Sandown. It's good to have experienced the car in various situations."

Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"It's great to have Dave in the car. It's really good consistency for us. He has been with Jack Daniel's Racing now for a number of years, which is great. He's an absolute pleasure to work with and very handy in the car as well. It's an exciting time of year. I'm a big fan of the endurance season. Our Championship really is quite diverse. We're heading into three very different rounds now; in particular the Sandown event is an exciting one. 500km these days goes pretty quick, so you need to be on your toes to get a result."

David Russell - #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"I can't wait to be honest. We had a great test at Winton, and I feel really comfortable in the car. Because I'm not a full time driver in this particular car, it's really important for me to get a good feel for the car, a good feel for the brakes, the handling and any changes that have been made in the past year. For me, I'm really confident heading in, and I can't wait to get on track and get amongst it."

Norton Hornets eager to kick off V8 Enduro Cup

The Norton Hornets feel they are ready to challenge the V8 hot shots at the Sandown 500 this weekend.

After a productive test at Winton Motor Raceway last week, the pair of Norton Nissans is aiming to fight for top finishing places at the Sandown race – the traditional lead-up event to the famous Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama.

The V8 Supercars endurance season brings with it a new set of challenges – two drivers in each car, plus long distance races that will see the best-prepared teams take the most reward.

For regular Norton drivers James Moffat and Michael Caruso and their co-drivers, it is a case of familiar territory and new ground.

Moffat will be partnered by Taz Douglas, the same teammate he drove with in 2013. Last year, their Sandown 500 was dogged with mechanical issues, and both Moffat and Douglas are keen to put a decent result on the board at the outer-Melbourne track.

For Caruso, he will be paired with Dean Fiore. The West Australian has been a lead driver in his own right for the past five years, but after stepping out of a full-time seat at the start of this season, he was snatched up by Nissan Motorsport to partner Caruso. While the pair has never raced together, it is one of the most experienced V8 combinations in the Sandown 500 field.

Track action kicks off on Friday with three practice sessions. Saturday's format is jam-packed, with practice, qualifying plus two qualifying races. Sunday will see a morning warm-up followed by the 500km race at 1:40 p.m. local time.

James Moffat, #360 Norton Nissan Altima

"I'm looking forward to the event. For me, the Sandown 500 is the second biggest race of the year. It's an event that has a huge amount of history in our sport and it's one of those races that everyone wants to win. I enjoy the track. It's unique with the grandstand down the front straight and the atmosphere it creates. I'm just looking forward to getting stuck into it because I love the endurance races – it's the best time of our season. It's also very important for us to get the Enduro Cup off to the best possible start. My co-driver Taz has slotted back into the team without a problem. He drove with us last year so it's great to have some continuity. We just need to go there, put our heads down and do the best we can."

Taz Douglas, #360 Norton Nissan Altima co-driver

"Like most of the events that the team has gone into this year, it's going to be a bit of an unknown for us. Compared to last year, the Nissan package has improved, and if we get everything right and a few things roll our way, we should be in for a solid result. James has been getting the car sorted the past couple of rounds which is positive. I'm feeling pretty confident. I went OK at the test, so I think we should be reasonably strong."

Michael Caruso, #36 Norton Nissan Altima

"I always look forward to racing at Sandown – it's close to home, plus it's one of the events that the fans can see virtually the whole track at any point. I'm looking forward to driving with Dean. He has settled in really well. He is easy to work with and I have a feeling he's going to do a good job for us. This is the start to the Pirtek Enduro Cup, so we want some good consistent results, and it would be nice to get off to a good start at Sandown."

Dean Fiore, #36 Norton Nissan Altima co-driver

"I'm really excited. I've never been a co-driver before – I've only ever been the lead driver – so it's a little different for me. But I know my job. We need to make sure Michael is 100 percent comfortable, so I'm here to do the best for his championship. After the test days we've had, I'm feeling good in the car and I'm super confidant that we can do a good job. Michael's recent form has been very encouraging. He has a really good understanding of the car, just like his engineer Steven (Todkill). Their bond seems really strong and I can see that the overall understanding and unity in car #36 is very tight."

CREDIT: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/jack-daniel-s-racing-set-for-sandown-enduro-norton-hornets-eager-to-kick-off-v8-enduro-cup

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09-06-14

SkullCandy Team Nissan Featuring GT Academy Winners

SkullCandy Team Nissan Featuring GT Academy Winners

 

Sometimes the world looks even better in black and white. Check out these great shots of Skullcandy Team Nissan, featuring GT Academy winners Bryan Heitkotter and Steve Doherty.

 

Photo credit: @AlexanderFrato

 

Credit:

https://www.facebook.com/nissanusa/photos/a.10154514259135375.1073741903.238312155374/10154514259220375/?type=1&theater

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08-18-14

THE KING OF DRIFT

THE KING OF DRIFT

DUBAI (Aug. 14, 2014) - GT Academy Middle East judge Abdo Feghali - aka Dado, aka King of Drift - shows the new international recruits how to boss an epic drift in a 370Z.

 

DUBAI – GT Academy Middle East judge Abdo Feghali – aka Dado, aka King of Drift – shows the new international recruits how to boss an epic drift in a 370Z.

 

Salman Al Khater won the first GT Academy Middle East competition in 2012. He has won an international endurance race and, along with Ashley Oldfield and Tomas Scheckter, took a class win at the Britcar 1000kms at Silverstone.

"GT Academy is getting huge international interest," said Nissan's Director of Global Morosports, Darren Cox. "We know that there are gamers outside of the traditional GT Academy territories that want a shot at winning. Nissan is an international company with global ambitions, and it's exciting that GT Academy reflects that."

More in GT Academy Middle East 2014: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/the-king-of-drift-at-gt-academy-finals-middle-east

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08-09-14

Nissan 180SX – GTR Frankenstein – It’s ALIVE!

Nissan 180SX - GTR Frankenstein - It's ALIVE! Check out this monstrous 180SX that the mad men at Bee-Racing made into a GT-R!

 

Pop, pop, pop goes the misfiring system combusting in the yellow Bee-Racing Nissan R324 in the D1 Grand Prix drift series. Bee-Racing is infamous for creating machines that are a minor anomaly when it comes to a purpose-built drift car. It's safe to state that they definitely like to stay away from the norm. The famed R32 Nissan GT-R demo car converted to an FR configuration and displaying a R34 front end has become one of the most renowned cars in drifting today. The big boss Kiyonori Imai of Bee-R requires that all his shop cars sport the signature Bee-R Yellow to be recognized (and feared) in the industry. While many might refer to this taste in color as a slight form of insanity, they may be correct—but in a good way. On the outside, an automobile sliding through turns may totally look disorderly and like pure chaos, but inside, expert drivers and genius engineers have everything under precise control. Ever wonder why drifting is called the "controlled slide?"

 

Recently, Imai debuted another fresh yellow 2JZGTE machine at the Drift Muscle series that sent a sonic boom through the entire world of drifting. Photos of an R35 Nissan GT-R in full swing sliding sideways emerged over social media walls all over the world, and, to car enthusiasts, there was something peculiar about the nature of this machine.

 

At first glance, one may think that Imai somehow disabled the AWD system of an R35 Nissan GT-R to make it rear-wheel drive. Nissan gurus were scratching their heads to know how and why such a thing was done to such a superbly designed vehicle from the factory. Upon closer inspection of spy shots discovered on Japanese blogs, it was revealed that this vehicle started its life as an RPS13 Nissan 180SX. Similar to swapping body styles on a radio-controlled car, an R35 Nissan GT-R shell was retrofitted on top of the framerail of an S-chassis. At this point, our gearhead brains were yearning for more details of this yellow jacket, but be warned, what was uncovered from our investigation may shock some of you folks.

 

Apparently, the 180SX project was launched four years ago and took three years to build with the sole intention of Imai himself making an impact in the Drift Muscle series. He said, "My drifting has greatly improved over the years, so that's why I decided I needed a new machine." An estimated 9,000,000 yen ($90,000 USD) was invested into this project to shape it into fruition for Imai and his company, where his intentions were purposefully directed to make something that stirs controversy amongst the drift circuit.

Further revelation: A 3.0L Toyota 2JZGTE (Supra) engine was chosen to power this vehicle, since these units have been proven to be substantially robust even in factory form. Imai basically installed a set of Tomei camshafts, a GReddy surge tank, and a GCG Turbo kit, and called it a day. Other supporting engine mods included a Bosch fuel pump, Sard fuel pressure regulator, and Sard 800cc injectors. A custom-mounted Sard fuel collector tank sits behind the driver seat as well as the battery for preventing fuel starvation from extreme lateral g's and for corner balance, respectively. A Bee-R custom exhaust expels all the gas, but not before passing through a factory catalytic converter that's mandated by the Drift Muscle rulebook. An estimated 460 hp at 6,600 rpm is produced with over 368 lb-ft of torque with this setup, which should be plenty of power for Imai to learn to master. The entire engine is controlled by a trusty Australian ECU named Adaptronic and tuned by Imai himself.

Since the 2JZGTE Supra engine was robust and handled plenty of boost in factory form, it wouldn't be effective unless it had a bulletproof transmission that came with it. Imai chose a Getrag V160 six-speed tranny since it was practically indestructible and it perfectly complemented the engine without any custom fabrication. The transition of rotational force is all taken care of by an Ogura Racing Clutch triple-plate unit. We predict that when Imai's drifting gets even better, he will most likely upgrade to a sequential dog-geared tranny in the near future, provided that he doesn't smash the immaculate R35 body into a barrier at Ebisu Circuit (knock on wood).

In the suspension department, a GP Sports basic coilover suspension kit was installed alongside a variety of Bee-R and Driftworks adjustable control arms. With a relatively conservative spring rate of 8k front and 6k rear, the 180SX didn't require coilovers that were overly exaggerated, since this setup directly correlated with the lightweight nature of the chassis. The wheel position and suspension geometry in terms of camber, caster, toe, and scrub radius didn't really need drastic alteration since the wheel base of both the R35 and S13 weren't all that different. The R35 body literally was a great fit on top of the chassis.

The stenciled Goodyear Eagle letters on all four corners of the tires makes excellent marketing exposure for the brand as well as reinforcing a motorsports feel of this machine. The 255/35 and 265/35 rubbers are mounted on a full set of 18x10.5 Enkei RS05 wheels, with R34 GT-R calipers front and rear.

Sitting in the cockpit of this machine is like being strapped inside a terrifying roller coaster. At standstill, the body builds up anxiety wondering what's in store. Once in motion, the adrenaline and testosterone overrides every neuro receptor in the brain for a seizure-inducing driftgasm. The only luxurious aspect on the interior is the foam rollcage padding and the FIA-approved racing seat. Let it be known that the Bride Low Max reclinable seat enhances vehicle control originating from driver perception and lowered center of gravity. It's clear that Imai had literally built this machine from the ground up since the rollcage, gauge cluster, and dashboard are all positioned for his personal preference. Perhaps subliminally surrounding oneself in a bright yellow cage gives the brain some extra adrenaline needed to plummet into a turn sideways at triple-digit speeds.

The final shocking piece of information that we had uncovered was the front opening bonnet and scissor doors. While true racers may frown upon these modifications, please be reminded that this is not your ordinary motorsport. Flamboyancy and craziness gets you more points in drifting. Imai and Bee-R must absolutely be commended for bringing the car to this level of spectacular caliber. Only in Japan is this kind of craziness openly accepted and copied across the world. But the door and hood hinges make the car heavier and slower, you say? No problem at all, Imai just needs to turn up the 2JZGTE boost!

Yellow is the color for insanity. As insane as they may be, Bee-Racing has managed to take a step aside from the boring norm and execute their visionary project into a tangible matter. The best thing about this machine is that no matter how much love or hate it receives, Imai can care less. He built his ideal machine, and it has plenty of potential for competition. That's all that matters. No wonder Imai is always all smiles. Keep up the craziness, Japan!

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07-12-14

Nissan survives the longest night at the Nürburgring

Nissan survives the longest night at the Nürburgring

NÜRBURGRING, Germany- Two Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 race cars have finished the 2014 Nürburgring 24 Hours. The grueling race, held on the 25-kilometer Nordschleife, saw over 160 cars and 600 drivers compete for glory in one of the toughest racing events in the world.
 
The star of the show for Nissan was 2013 GT Academy Germany graduate Florian Strauss.  After Lucas Ordonez was struck down with flu, the No.80 GT-R was left a man down, and despite the fact that Florian has only been racing for nine months, he had to take his full share of driving duty - eight hours of navigating the Nordschleife's 172 corners, many of which are blind.
"I wasn't too nervous, as I have been out on this track at a recent VLN race," said Strauss. "We had a bit of bad luck in the beginning, so I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to catch up again. I caught Chiyo-san (in the No.30 Nissan) at one point and we had a good battle together as we went through traffic so that was very exciting. I made sure I kept calm and got into a good rhythm to do the best I could for the team."
The bad luck Strauss mentioned was lap one contact for the No.80 GT-R, which forced Alex Buncombe to pit for repairs, instantly losing a lap on the competition. That car was then in fight back mode for the remainder of the race. Buncombe was able to lap on the pace of the leaders, but despite his best efforts and those of Nick Heidfeld and Strauss, the mountain was too high to climb.
 
Nick Heidfeld put in some great stints in the No.80 GT-R but came unstuck during the night when he made contact with another car.
"After Foxhole, which is a very quick part of the circuit, I came out of the compression and saw a yellow light, then straight away I saw double yellows which means you have to be travelling at 60kph," said Heidfeld. "I didn't get enough warning so I decelerated as much as I could but then came across two cars blocking the circuit. I had to choose between hitting one of them or going onto the grass. I avoided the grass as I didn't know if there were marshals there and hit one of the cars."
The resulting damage put the No.80 GT-R out of action for an hour, but once back in the race the car ran well.
"Overall I have enjoyed the race and it is good to get my first Nürburgring 24 Hours finish, despite not taking the position we hoped for," said Heidfeld. "Realistically we had the pace for a top 10 finish."
For the first eight hours of the race, the No.30 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 - driven by Michael Krumm, Kazuki Hoshino, Katsumasa Chiyo and Tetsuya Tanaka - ran strongly, but just after midnight a call rang out over the team radio to say there had been an accident, ironically at the same spot where Heidfeld later had his accident.
After exiting the Foxhole, Hoshino came across a stationery car and had to take emergency avoiding action but made hard contact with the barrier.  Hoshino managed to get the GT-R back to the garage, but after a thorough inspection it became apparent that the chassis frame was too damaged to repair.  The team officially withdrew the No.30 car from the race at 02:30hrs.
 
The highest finishing Nissan was the No.24 GT-R of Schulze Motorsport, raced by Kazanori Yamauchi, Jordan Tresson and Tobias and Michael Schulze. They crossed the line in 12th position in class.
"Before we came here, we knew what a big challenge this event was," said Darren Cox, Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, NISMO. "We went head-to-head with established teams who have been coming here for years, and I'm proud of the job we did here. The Nordschleife is an incredible challenge so I was especially pleased to see how well Florian conducted himself here. Off track we had a great Nürburgring 24 Hours, exciting the loyal fans of this event with live streaming on NISMO.TV and welcoming a huge number of guests at NISMO Race Camp. We may not have got the results we wanted on track – through punctures, accidents and some bad luck – but we gave it our all and will be back again next year."
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06-01-14

NISMO Global Debut

NISMO Global Debut

 

FONTANA DAM, North Carolina - There was a surprise "guest" today at ZDAYZ, the annual gathering of hundreds of Nissan, Datsun and NISMO owners and enthusiasts - the world debut of the new 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO. A solid progress for 2015, the new 370Z NISMO model features exterior, interior and performance refinements, along with an expanded model selection that includes both 6-speed manual and 7-speed automatic transmissions and a new 370Z NISMO Tech grade.

"NISMO is the heart and soul of Nissan performance, both for the track and on the street, so it's fitting that we are showing the dramatic new 2015 370Z NISMO for the first time at a gathering of our most loyal and enthusiast owners," said Nissan Chief Planning Officer and Executive Vice President Andy Palmer. "The new 370Z NISMO joins the recently introduced Nissan GT-R NISMO and Nissan JUKE NISMO RS, giving performance fans a range of fresh, factory tuned NISMO models to enjoy."

2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO

The most striking change for the 2015 370Z NISMO is its revised exterior design. Its GT-R-inspired functional and fully integrated aerodynamic body pieces have been redesigned to provide an aggressive and more aerodynamic new appearance - as well as optimizing front and rear downforce. Key changes include a new, deep front fascia with LED Hyper Daytime Running Lights, black headlight bezels, NISMO emblem and signature NISMO red stripe accent on the integrated front chin spoiler. The red accent continues down the redesigned side sills, on the black-color sideview mirrors and across the lower portion of the redesigned rear fascia. The unique NISMO rear spoiler has been reshaped and downsized.

The standard 19-inch NISMO super-lightweight forged aluminum-alloy wheels by RAYS also have been restyled for 2015 with a twin-five spoke design and a charcoal gray machine-finish (formerly silver).

Inside, the unique NISMO-styled interior is enhanced with redesigned black-and-red Recaro® leather-appointed seats with Alcantara® accents. The new seats, co-developed with Recaro®, are exclusively designed for the 370Z NISMO to provide more uniform body pressure and better all-direction holding during spirited acceleration, braking and cornering. They also play a key role in providing driving excitement by maximizing the harmony between driver and machine. The interior also features red seat trim and stitching with NISMO logo, an Alcantara®-appointed leather-wrapped steering wheel and NISMO red tachometer.

Also new for 2015 is the 370Z NISMO Tech model, which adds a hard drive-based Nissan Navigation System with 7.0-inch VGA touch-sensitive display, RearView Monitor, Bose® Audio System, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), Streaming Audio via Bluetooth®, auto-dimming rearview mirror and HomeLink® Universal Transceiver.

As in previous years, the 2015 370Z NISMO is powered by a potent 350-horsepower 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL). The engine is matched with an exclusive, tuned H-configured exhaust system design, muffler tuning and  an optimized calibration is installed to help create 18 horsepower more than a standard 370Z Coupe. Torque is rated at 276 lb-ft.

Two transmission choices are offered for the first time on the Z NISMO model. The close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission features standard SynchroRev Match®, the world's first synchronized downshift rev matching manual transmission, which allows rev-matched heel-toe-like downshifting. Newly available is a refined 7-speed automatic with Downshift Rev Matching (DRM), Adaptive Shift Control and manual shift mode with paddle shifters.

The 370Z NISMO also features a refined 4-wheel independent suspension, NISMO-branded strut tower brace for enhanced body rigidity and a pair of performance dampers to help minimize road-input vibrations and help contribute to the NISMO 370Z's high levels of handling and performance feel. The NISMO tuned suspension includes special springs and stabilizer bars. Large Nissan Sport Brakes and a Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD) - with a shorter final drive ratio for better acceleration feel - are also standard on the 2015 370Z NISMO.

The 2015 370Z NISMO is offered in just four exterior colors – Solid Red, Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver and Pearl White. It is set to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in July 2014.

"There's much more to love about the 370Z NISMO than ever before – the new appearance inside and out, enhanced handling, new wheels, more technology and a choice of transmissions," added Palmer. "Our fans here at ZDAYZ want only the best and that's what this new 370Z NISMO delivers."

credit:

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/channels/us-united-states-nissan-nismo/releases/a-special-global-nismo-debut

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05-18-14

Michael Caruso seals super podium result at Albert Park

Michael Caruso seals super podium result at Albert Park 

 

MELBOURNE - Michael Caruso has secured a deserved podium place at the Albert Park street circuit last weekend.

Caruso, driving the Norton/beyondblue Nissan Altima, finished third, enough to secure third overall for the Grand Prix event.
Caruso dropped back through the pack early, but with some great speed aboard his #300 beyondblue Altima, Caruso raced his way through the pack, eventually pipping Garth Tander at the finish line for third overall.
Caruso's Norton teammate James Moffat was very competitive, running as high as fourth until he was the innocent victim in a clash with Nissan teammate Rick Kelly and Red Bull driver Jamie Whincup.
 
The next event on the V8 Supercars Championship calendar takes us Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania in two weeks time.
 
Michael Caruso, #300 Norton/beyondblue Nissan Altima
"It's an absolutely brilliant result for Norton, beyondblue and Nissan. We started fifth and got crushed back to eighth. It was on for young and old out there and I was getting hit at every corner of the car. To manage to climb back up to third, it was a testament to the fantastic car speed that we had. It was as good as it's been this weekend. And to get Garth over the line, it makes the result even sweeter."
James Moffat, #360 Norton Nissan Altima
"Before the Safety Car, the speed of the car was fantastic. I was definitely pulling in Fabian (Coulthard) who was wounded with a flat spotted tire, but I felt it was just a matter of time before we reeled him. It was a great effort by the boys. They tuned it up over night and the changes definitely worked. That was one positive. Obviously, the result wasn't fantastic, but I was a victim of other people's accidents. That's motor racing, though. It's a shame for the guys, because they'll be fixing the car when they probably shouldn't have to be. I'm more encouraged now, because we have a bit of speed back in the old girl, and that's something to look forward to for the rest of the year."
Sunday trouble at the Australian Grand Prix
In other Altima V8 Supercar news, the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend ended on a low note for Jack Daniel's Racing drivers Todd and Rick Kelly, with both Nissan Altimas striking trouble on the streets of Albert Park.
The pair made solid progress in the early running of the fourth and final heat for the weekend, but Todd's race unraveled after the halfway mark of the 12-lap journey when his car suffered a sudden cooling issue.
Todd immediately parked the car to save damaging the engine, with the safety car called upon to remove his vehicle from the circuit.
Rick then made solid progress from the ensuing restart, but at the entry to turn nine, contact sent the car out of control into James Moffat and Jamie Whincup.
Stuck in the sand trap, Rick was classified a non-finisher.
The V8 Supercar Championship now moves south, with the Tyrepower Tasmania 400 scheduled for March 28-30 at Symmons Plains Raceway.
JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD
TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race 4- DNF
"The weekend was looking not too bad, we had the potential to have all four cars in the top-ten for most of the weekend, and we've only come back with one car in the end. It's disappointing, but the speed from the cars has been pleasing. We'll bounce back at Symmons Plains."
RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:
Race 4- DNF
"It was the exact opposite of what we hoped for. Sunday at the AGP always goes a little bit crazy with double points, and there was some really good fierce racing out there. We got a couple of good restarts and moved forward a little bit, and unfortunately we went under another car there and caught his back wheel when he moved over a bit.
"It sent me in the air, and it was a bit out of control from there to be honest. Once I climbed on the brakes I couldn't do much, it took us out, and it took (James) Moffat out as well, which is really disappointing because the last thing you want to have is for team cars to come together. No doubt we are all quite disappointed by that, the car pace was really good, in our car we made really good improvements today. That's as good as we could have hoped for from the weekend, we got (Michael) Caruso on the podium, we've now got to focus on Tasmania."
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04-24-14

Nissan-powered prototypes show good pace in two practice sessions at Sebring

Nissan-powered prototypes show good pace in two practice sessions at Sebring

 

SEBRING, Florida - Both the Muscle Milk - Pickett Racing Nissan ORECA and the OAK Racing Nissan Morgan looked to match the pace of the Daytona Prototypes in the first three practice sessions for the Sebring 12-hour on Thursday.  Alex Brundle had the second fastest lap of the first session for OAK racing with a very fast 1:52.86, but the car fell off that pace somewhat in the later sessions, managing only 10th best time in the afternoon and night practices.
The Muscle Milk- Pickett Racing Nissan-powered ORECA was more consistent, with Klaus Graf notching the third fastest lap in the afternoon session, sandwiched by fifth fastest in the morning and Lucas Luhr driving the seventh fastest in the night session. GT Academy Europe Champion Jann Mardenborough will be competing in his first race on American soil with teammates Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf.
"Sebring is one of the old-school circuits where if you make a mistake, there isn't tens of miles of runoff. There's grass and then there's tire barriers and concrete barriers as well," said the 22-year old Englishman. "It has surfaces and elements I’ve never seen before, so there is a lot to learn.  There's more than 60 cars entered for the race so I think it's going to be really busy and exciting."
The closed cockpit Daytona Prototype cars have led each of the three sessions on the challenging 3.74-mile Sebring track.  Tire wear will be a major factor in the race, as the concrete surface of the converted airfield has an abrasive effect on racing tires.
Credit:

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-powered-prototypes-show-good-pace-in-two-thursday-practice-sessions-at-sebring

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03-25-14

Cars.com selects Nissan Sentra and Versa sedan to its “Top 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy” list

Cars.com selects Nissan Sentra and Versa sedan to its "Top 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy" list

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For Nissan, affordability meets uncompromised fuel efficiency and modern technology. This week, Cars.com, the leading online resource for buying and selling new and used cars, recognized two Nissan vehicles – Sentra and Versa Sedan – in its "Top 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy" list, which identifies vehicles with the lowest sticker price and fuel costs on the market. Nissan was the only manufacturer with more than one vehicle on the list.

The 2014 Nissan Versa Sedan S Plus ranked third on the list with a starting price of $13,790** and 35 mpg combined highway/city fuel economy. The 2014 Nissan Sentra S with Xtronic transmission finished tenth with a starting price of $16,790** and 34 mpg combined highway/city fuel economy.
To create the list, Cars.com editors calculated sticker price and destination fees plus eight year fuel cost to decide which vehicles deliver the biggest "financial bang for your hard-earned buck." With starting price and eight-year fuel cost combined, the Sentra totaled $29,247, and the Versa Sedan amounted to $25,914. The last time Cars.com ran this test was in 2008, when the 2008 Versa placed sixth with a total cost of $30,002. While the price remains remarkably low, the fuel efficiency and technological advancement of the vehicles – including available technologies such as Bluetooth® and NissanConnect™ with Navigation – are as impressive as ever.
"Both Sentra and Versa Sedan feature notable fuel economy, advanced technology options, and an economical starting price that even the most frugal buyers can appreciate," said Dan Mohnke, vice president, Nissan Chief Marketing Manager & Marketing Operations. "In addition to impressive fuel economy and advanced technology, Sentra features a high-quality interior design with soft-touch instrument panel and door armrests, while Versa Sedan offers the most rear legroom in its class*. We're providing our buyers more for each dollar they pay, and we're honored to be recognized by Cars.com."
The affordable Nissan Sentra compact sedan offers a "class above" look and feel inside and out, along with refined performance and features. Its fuel-efficient 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine helps deliver 34 mpg combined highway/city fuel economy and a more than 415-mile real-world driving range. Available technology includes NissanConnectTM with Navigation and NissanConnectTM Apps smartphone integration for iPhone® and Android, Bose® Premium audio system with eight speakers, Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System and RearView Monitor.
The popular Nissan Versa Sedan continues to redefine entry-level car value. It combines a sophisticated exterior design, well-appointed interior and exceptional room for five adults – including more rear legroom than some mid-size sedans. Versa Sedan is marked by innovations such as an available affordable integrated navigation system and standard 1.6-liter engine with an advanced dual fuel injection system, which helps produce 40 mpg highway fuel economy. Versa Sedan is offered in four models: S, S Plus, SV and SL.
To view Cars.com's full top 10 list, including a full explanation of the methodology behind the calculations, please visit http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2014/02/top-10-cheapest-new-cars-you-can-buy.html#more.
Credit: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/cars-com-selects-nissan-sentra-and-versa-sedan-to-its-top-10-cheapest-new-cars-you-can-buy-list?page=3&query
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03-14-14

Jack Daniels Racing Takes on the Altima

Jack Daniels Racing Takes on the Altima

MELBOURNE, Australia - Jack Daniel's Racing has unveiled its new war paint for the 2014 V8 Supercar Championship, with Rick and Todd Kelly set to return to the wheel of their Nissan Altimas.

For Nissan Motorsport's second season in Australia's premiere motorsport category, the pair of distinctive black and white Altimas will sport a refined paint scheme, as well as a revised aerodynamics package, with changes made to the front bar and rear wing supports.

Outside of the aesthetic changes to the racecar, continuity is the key for the outfit, with a continuation of the same driver, chassis and sponsor package from 2013, which saw Rick Kelly claim a solid 14th in the final season standings.

Importantly for Jack Daniel's, this year marks its ninth successive season of major team sponsorship in the class, making the involvement one of the longest serving on the grid.

The first time the new-look Jack Daniel's Racing machines will be seen on track for 2014 will be this weekend at the Sydney.com Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park, with the season proper commencing at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide from February 27 to March 2.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"I'm very excited to be at the beginning of our second year, as the whole thing's quite an unknown for us," said Todd Kelly.

"We've had a pretty good crack at our first year, and we achieved a lot, in my opinion, when you consider the work that has gone on behind the scenes to develop the VK56 engine, and our first attempt at turning the Nissan Altima into a race car.

"All in all, it wasn't too bad a year last year. The guys have all been working extremely hard through the second half of last year, and especially through the offseason to develop a new aero kit for the car, which we haven't used on a race track yet.

"Hopefully that has given us the gain that we are looking for."

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"We've sat down with the team and analyzed our strengths and weaknesses, and what we have to do to improve ourselves, and the results that we've got, and we're ready to implement that now," said Rick Kelly.

"It's really exciting; the team have worked really hard over the summer, and the last six months in fact to develop and aero package that's going to be a lot stronger for us in 2014 than what we saw in 2013.

"To match that and to get the most out of that, we've got to do a better job in all of the other areas that it takes to be successful on the track.

"That's everything from engineering, to driving, to the strategy. For us, we're very excited that we have a new opportunity in 2014 and to make the most out of it."

MICHAEL McSHANE - Managing Director, Brown-Forman Australia & New Zealand

"Jack Daniel's is excited to continue its association with Nissan Motorsport for the 2014 V8 Supercar Championship.  Last year was a learning season for the team, and with that experience taken on board, we are looking forward to strong results in 2014," said Michael McShane.

"Both Rick and Todd are great sportsmen, role models, and ambassadors of the Jack Daniel's brand, and through their efforts over the years, they have continued to build our responsible drinking message in this vital market.

"V8 Supercar remains the pinnacle of motorsport in Australia, and we look forward to an exhilarating season ahead."

 

CREDIT: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/jack-daniel-s-racing-ups-the-ante-in?page=2

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03-06-14

Lucas Ordonez to race Nissan ZEOD RC at Le Mans

Lucas Ordonez to race Nissan ZEOD RC at Le Mans

  • Inaugural Nissan PlayStation GT Academy winner first driver confirmed
  • Spaniard graduates from test role to race driver
  • Nissan ZEOD RC to become the first car to complete a racing lap of Le Mans on nothing but electric power

LONDON - Two-time Le Mans 24 Hours LM P2 podium finisher and inaugural Nissan PlayStation GT Academy winner Lucas Ordóñez has been confirmed as the first race driver for Nissan's revolutionary ZEOD RC prototype.

The Nissan ZEOD RC will become the first car to complete an entire 13.6-kilometer (8.5 mile) lap of Le Mans on nothing but electrical power when it competes in this year's Le Mans 24 hours.

The car will combine electric motors with an incredible 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder turbo engine that produces 400 horsepower yet weights only 40kg (88 pounds).
The car will occupy the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's "Garage 56" at this year's Le Mans - a spot reserved for new and innovative technologies not previously seen in the French endurance classic.

For each tank of fuel used at Le Mans, the ZEOD RC will complete an additional lap on pure electric power. While operating under gasoline power, the car's battery will be recharged by regenerative braking - recycling the heat generated by the carbon brakes to produce electricity.

The development project is being used by Nissan as part of its planned assault on the LM P1 class of the Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2015.

Ordóñez won the inaugural Nissan PlayStation GT Academy competition in 2008 and made his Le Mans 24 Hours debut in 2011. In three attempts at the famous French endure, he has twice finished on the LM P2 podium. He also took championship wins in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in LM P2 in 2011 and last year's Blancpain Endurance Series.

Most recently he took a class victory along with four new GT Academy graduates at the Dubai 24 Hours. Ordóñez was previously confirmed as the test driver for the ZEOD RC project but has now been promoted into a race seat

"Since becoming our first GT Academy winner, Lucas has demonstrated his speed and talent in a wide variety of Nissan machinery - LM P2, GT3, GT4, Super GT and even V8 Supercar. That versatility was a key part of the decision to place him as the inaugural race driver locked in for the Nissan ZEOD RC," said Nissan Global Motorsport Director Darren Cox. "The ZEOD RC is such a unique and different car. Anybody who drives the car is going to have to adapt to an entirely different experience. Our three drivers for Le Mans will have to be versatile and eager to learn. It will be very different but they will have the opportunity to be a part of something very special in what will not only be an extremely important project for Nissan, but for the automotive industry as a whole."

Read Driver Interview Here: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/lucas-ord-ez-to-race-nissan-zeod-rc-at-le-mans?page=1

 

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02-07-14

Two Nissan-Powered prototypes grab top 10 finishes at rolex 24 at Daytona

Two Nissan-Powered prototypes grab top 10 finishes at rolex 24 at Daytona

 

DAYTONA, Fla. – Lucas Luhr, driver for Muscle Milk Racing, knows well that winning championships is a year-long marathon. Given that the toughest test of the year is the Rolex Daytona 24 at Daytona, he is happy with a hard-earned fifth place for his Nissan-powered Oreca team of Luhr, Klaus Graf and Alex Brundle. The Muscle Milk ORECA-Nissan car was first among the P2-type cars entered.

 

"I have to say that I'm proud of our guys. It's a brand new package, brand new car, it was the first 24-hour race for this team, and to finish it, it was a good thing," said the four-time ALMS champion. "The car ran mostly trouble free and we finished only three laps down after 24 hours, and that's impressive."

 

The team qualified sixth, fastest of the P2 cars and behind five Daytona Prototypes –cars well suited for the full throttle racing at a superspeedway course. The car ran suffered two punctured tires early, dropping them back to 40th position after an hour.
By hour six, the Muscle Milk Oreca-Nissan was back in the top ten, pushing into seventh by midnight. By daylight, the Pickett team was a top five car, behind only Daytona Prototypes. Through the morning, the team ran between sixth and fourth, and with just three hours left, Klaus Graf took the wheel in fifth. Graf could not make up the lap he trailed on the Corvette DP car in fourth, and he brought the car home safely – still running strong.
 
French entry OAK Racing's Morgan-Nissan ran in the top 10 for five hours until an alternator failed and dropped them all the way to 55th position overall as the car underwent work in the garage. By daylight the OAK Racing car driven by Pla/Yacaman/Rusinov/Webb was in 14th, picking off slower cars and making up laps. With three hours remaining, Gustavo Yacaman had the car up to 11th, knocking on the door of an overall top 10.
 
With a furious finish by Yacaman, the Morgan-Nissan came home eighth overall and sixth in class, garnering valuable points to move forward to tracks better suited for the P2-style race cars. OAK Racing plans to contest the full season TUDOR Championship.
"It has been a battle," said Pierre-Alain Bouhet, Team Manager for OAK Racing. "We were knocked back in qualifying by a (electronic) wiring loom issue, but we knew from practice we were one of the top six fastest cars.  Then the alternator failed in hour six, which put us almost on the bottom. It's been a real fight to get back where we did in the end, so I'm pleased with the effort."
 
The teams move on to the Sebring 12 Hours March 14-15, then the Long Beach Street Circuit April 12.
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02-04-14

Nissan Revs up for Daytona Qualifier 2014

Nissan Revs up for Daytona Qualifier 2014

 

DAYTONA, Fla. – GT Academy 2011 champion Bryan Heitkotter has a history of strong qualifying laps during his Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSCC) career, and his first drive in the Skullcandy Nissan Altima almost netted him his fourth pole position. But a flurry of fast laps in the closing minutes of the session bumped the #33 Skullcandy Nissan Altima to the second row for tomorrow’s Performance 200 race at Daytona International Speedway.
 
“The car worked great,” said the 2011 Nissan GT Academy champion. “I’m still finding a tenth of a second here and there around this track, but I’m happy that I’ve been able to put some good laps together here at Daytona and can’t wait to start the race.”
 
The Nissan 370Z NISMO contingent in the GS class was led by Tim Bell, who managed 11th quickest during a crash-shortened qualifying session. This is Bell Racing’s first event with the Nissan, and the team of Tim Bell and Dane Cameron should be a potent combination in Friday’s race.
 
Doran Racing’s Brad Jaeger took 15th qualifying spot in the #14 Nissan, while the sister car #41 was unable to post a time despite being the quickest 370Z throughout most practice sessions.
“It was unfortunate the 41 car didn’t get a time today due to the very short qualifying session,” said team owner Kevin Doran. “David (Empringham) and John (Farano) have been consistent and fast this week, and it’s too bad they have to start near the back.  They’ll have time to make up ground and they’re very experienced and capable guys that can do it.”
 
Qualifying for the Rolex 24 at Daytona yielded both good and bad news for the Muscle Milk-Pickett Racing Nissan ORECA. Lucas Luhr was in a familiar position as the fastest LM P2 driver in the session. Unfortunately for the Muscle Milk team, Daytona Prototypes took the top 10 spots, leaving the Luhr/Graf/Brundle car 11th on the starting grid.
 
Fortunately, the P2 cars are typically quite reliable in endurance racing and the team has 24 hours to work their way up the scoreboard this weekend.
 
The OAK Racing Nissan-Morgan suffered a mechanical issue during qualifying and will have to start 23rd.  Fortunately, the team quickly corrected the issue and posted fifth fastest time during Thursday night practice.
 
The Rolex 24 at Daytona coverage on Fox Sports 1 begins on Saturday, January 25 at 2 p.m. EST.
 
The Continental Tire Challenge Performance 200 will air on Fox Sports 2 at 6 p.m. EST on Friday January 24.
Credit:

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-daytona-2014-qualifying-recap

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01-13-14

Nissan Returns To The Top Level Of US Racing

Nissan Returns To The Top Level Of US Racing

 

  • Muscle Milk Pickett Racing joins global Nissan NISMO official partner program
  • NISMO Global Exchange drivers to compete in Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans
  • Nissan's GT1 FIA World Champion Lucas Luhr back with Nissan power alongside Klaus Graf and Alex Brundle for Rolex 24
 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nissan aims to return to its glory days of sports car success from the late 80s/early 90s with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing joining forces with the Japanese manufacturer as its official partner team.
 
After taking back-to-back American Le Mans Series championship victories, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will be powered by Nissan in 2014 for the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Nissan dominated U.S. sports car racing from 1988 to 1991 - winning four consecutive driver’s championships, three manufacturer's titles and 33 IMSA races.
 
As part of the NISMO Global Driver Exchange, racers from Nissan's squad of international drivers will compete alongside Muscle Milk Pickett Racing's Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf. Luhr is no stranger to Nissan colors – winning the GT1 World Championship aboard a Nissan GT-R with Michael Krumm in 2011.
 
Nissan P2 World Endurance Championship regular Alex Brundle will join the team for the Rolex 24 at Daytona – the young British driver aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father Martin Brundle who won the American round-the-clock endurance classic 26 years ago in 1988.
 
The Rolex 24 at Daytona will be Brundle's first opportunity to contest a major U.S. championship event. The second-generation racer drove for Oak Racing in 2013 in the FIA World Endurance Championship – finishing second in both the championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LM P2 class.
 
Nissan drivers will also drive the Muscle Milk ORECA 03 prototype class entry at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
 
Launched last year, the NISMO Exchange provides opportunities for drivers in the Nissan "family" to contest major motorsports events across the globe.
 
The Nissan-powered Muscle Milk Pickett Racing ORECA 03 will hit the track this weekend at the "Roar before the Rolex 24" – the traditional pre-season test prior to the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship debuts at Daytona on January 25-26.
 
DARREN COX
NISSAN GLOBAL MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR
"We're glad to welcome Muscle Milk Pickett Racing to the Nissan family and look forward to having our official drivers learn from such a successful team.
 
"Greg Pickett and his team have achieved incredible results in recent years and having them as part of the NISMO Global Driver Exchange program will be an outstanding opportunity for our drivers. It is also great to again work with Lucas Luhr who won the GT1 World Championship with Nissan with Michael Krumm back in 2011. Lucas and Klaus Graf have enjoyed amazing success in the U.S. in recent years and I'm looking forward to seeing them continue that run with Nissan power in 2014. We are also very proud to have brought Nissan back to the forefront of U.S. sports car racing. Our company has an incredible pedigree dating back to the old IMSA championship and I'm certain Nissan and NISMO will add to that history in the coming years."
 
GREG PICKETT
OWNER – MUSCLE MILK PICKETT RACING
"We're extremely pleased to become one of Nissan's partner teams and to have them as part of the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing family. Nissan are proven race winners throughout the world and together we want to build a strong relationship that will help us continue the success that we've both come to enjoy. We're excited to not only have our prototype be powered by Nissan but to also be involved with them at a deeper level. Nissan has developed a great initiative with their NISMO Global Driver Exchange program and have a lot of young talent that we look forward to joining us throughout the season, starting with Alex Brundle at Daytona. I'm anxious to see Alex behind the wheel of our Muscle Milk ORECA/Nissan and I'm confident he will fit right in just fine with Klaus (Graf) and Lucas (Luhr)."
 
ALEX BRUNDLE
DRIVER – MUSCLE MILK PICKETT RACING
"I am excited to go over to Daytona and race in the Rolex 24. The chance to fight for overall victory with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and Nissan is a fantastic next step in my career. I am delighted to be finally getting the chance to compete at an event I have aspired to contest. I would like to say thanks to Darren Cox of Nissan and Pickett Racing for giving me that opportunity. Muscle Milk has a tremendous record in American sports car racing so to have the chance to join such a prestigious American team is excellent. I'm looking forward to making the most of it. Klaus and Lucas have driven in the American series for a quite a while now so I can learn quickly from them. I am looking forward to the challenge. The Nissan engine was so strong in the WEC last year that in reality there was no other powerplant to have, which brings confidence heading into the testing process. The engine produces a lot of torque with impressive reliability evidenced by the performance we enjoyed at Oak Racing in last year where we had two cars running strongly at the finish of the Le Mans 24 hours."
 
CREDIT:

http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-returns-to-top-level-u-s-sports-car-racing

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10-04-13

The Nissan Leaf leads the way in EV Racing with the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC!

The Nissan Leaf leads the way in EV Racing with the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC!
IRVINE, Calif. - The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC was one of many models on hand at the Nissan 360 motoring event in southern California, drawing media and car fans from around the globe over its month-long run.
 
Among the many Nissan executives that visited 360 was Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga, who took the all-electric racing car for a few hot laps but didn't leave a trail of smoke - just a smile.
 
Some have called the LEAF RC, which debuted at the New York Motor Show in 2011, the future of racing, but COO Shiga says it embodies the most important attribute for any vehicle: It's fun to drive.
 
CREDIT: http://www.conceptcarz.com/articles/article.aspx?articleID=4132
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10-04-13

RACING NEWS: Nissan wins Home and Away Races!!!

RACING NEWS:
Nissan wins Home and Away Races!!!
 
  • Nissan 1-2 in Texas sees G-Drive win two in a row
  • Newest NISMO Athletes take class win at Silverstone in GT Academy prize drive
G-Drive Racing put the disappointment of their Le Mans exclusion far behind them yesterday when the No.26 Oreca Nissan stormed to a dominant LM P2 win at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.  This win is their second in a row as they took the victory at the last round in Brazil just three weeks ago.
The Pecom Racing team came home second, sealing the 1-2 for the Powered by Nissan teams and taking the lead in the LM P2 Teams title race.  It was a tough afternoon for Oak Racing who took sixth, seventh and eighth place, after challenging for the lead but scoring valuable points nonetheless.
 
"The drivers, the mechanics, the engineers, in fact the whole team did a perfect job," said race winner Roman Rusinov. "It was very important for us to start from pole position as we knew our car was not the fastest this weekend and we've done it! This is our second win in a row and I am very satisfied with the result.  I hope we can continue this winning momentum when we travel to Japan."
 
The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place at Fuji Speedway in Japan on October 19 and 20.  This event will also see the revolutionary Nissan ZEOD RC in action, making its public on track debut in a series of demonstration runs.
 
NISMO Athletes Take Win at Silverstone 
 
Nissan collected silverware for first place finishes at the home of GT Academy, Silverstone last weekend. Nissan GT Academy Team RJN entered a Nissan 370Z into the Britcar 1000kms for Ashley Oldfield (2012 GT Academy South Africa winner), Salman Al-Khater (2012 GT Academy Middle East winner) and GT Academy Head Judge for South Africa, Tomas Scheckter.  This race was their prize for winning GT Academy and like the other NISMO Athletes before them it is the first big test of the new driver's skills.
They didn't disappoint as they took a very confident class win in the 1000km, six-hour race.  This result also gave them the outright production win and eighth place in the overall result.
 
"I feel so happy," said Salman. "It was a great race and it was the first endurance race I have done and I really enjoyed it, especially because of all the time you get in the car. To be on the top step in our first race after the driver development program feels really good. Thanks to Nissan, to GT Academy and to the team. It has been a great day."
"I'm really happy that we could get the victory in our graduation race," added Ashley. "It wasn't easy and it looked like we might not get it for a bit but we did it in the end. I'm really stoked!"
 
Salman and Ashley's mentor, Tomas Scheckter, was proud of his teammates and pleased to see how much they had developed since winning GT Academy in March.
 
"It has been a great weekend what with taking pole and winning the race," said Tomas. "Not only that though the way I have seen these two drivers develop and put in such consistent performances just shows what GT Academy has done. We've proved that you have found another two quality drivers. I was very happy to be a part of this weekend."
 
CREDIT: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-wins-at-home-and-away
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10-04-13

Nissan Racing team takes the Dogzilla Food Truck for a ride!

Nissan Racing team takes the Dogzilla Food Truck for a ride! 

IRVINE, Calif. - The words "food" and "truck" combined can invoke the kind of misery-on-wheels that restocks airplane galleys. But not at Nissan 360.
 
At Nissan's global showcase of products and technologies in California, two food trucks - The Lime Truck (TLC) and Dogzilla - were lime-green chariots serving the best SoCal has to offer. And like Cinderella getting dressed up for the ball, tacos and hotdogs never had it so good.
 
"Foodies need not fret: The Lime Truck has arrived," so went the slogan for the Orange County-based taco truck.
 
TLT beckoned N360 guests daily from 11am to 2pm, while the Ultimate Taco (12-hour pulled pork, cojita cheese, homemade guacamole and chipotle honey cabbage) and the Sweet and Spicy Steak Taco (marinated hanger steak, Asian slaw and homemade wontons) enticed hungry journalists, confirming why TLT is royalty on the California food-truck scene.
Winner of the Food Network's 2011 The Great Food Truck Race and boasting a Twitter following over 10,000 strong, TLT now has an empire of three trucks and two brick-and-mortar eateries in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
 
All its ingredients are organic, locally sourced from partner Melissa's Produce, including the ghost peppers (bhut jolokia chiles) in the Death Sauce, which made the mouths of brave TLT taco eaters at N360 burn like the 110-degree desert sands surrounding the tracks.
What comes next?
 
The Lime Truck's Alex Demag - and high school buddy of TLT founder-owner Daniel Shemtob - says a third location in the Irvine Spectrum is planned for the cars in 2014.
The Lime Truck is often kept company by the Dogzilla team. Established around the same time as TLT, in 2010, Dogzilla unleashes the condiments of Asia on its dogs, including teriyaki sauce, furikake seasoning, fried eggs - and even yakisoba.
The Yaki Dog is a cajun pork link topped with yakisoba noodles, red ginger, okonomiyaki sauce, and aonori - all true to Dogzilla's slogan of "Not your typical wiener." But if you're not digging Asian-style dogs, Dogzilla offers the Ball Park - with chili, onions and cheddar cheese - or a classic beef frank, the Plain Wiener.
 
Dogzilla's Chris Le says owners Bac Dang and Martin Tse wanted to put a twist on hotdogs and with the success of fusion decided on Asian trimmings. Clearly, it's worked.
Following the food truck boom around 2010 that took mobile munchies into the hundreds, only a few remain.
 
Dogzilla and The Lime Truck keep their L.A. and O.C. entourages up to date on their whereabouts through social media. Did we mention they do weddings?
And after a main course, what better way to go than ice cream. Ben & Jerry's was on site with none other than Maan Sidhu - owner of the only B&J's in Orange County - scooping the likes of Chunky Monkey and Cherry Garcia into cups and cones for overheated guests.
By the end of the event, they had a chance to sample Nissan 360's auto offerings: the Nissan 370Z NISMO and the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, and even race their own vehicles for a quick taste of food truck performance on the track.
 
CREDIT: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/truckin-with-tlt-and-dogzilla-at-nissan
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09-26-13

The Pro-Am team championship is a straight fight between Nissan and Ferrari!

The Pro-Am team championship is a straight fight between Nissan and Ferrari!
 
  • Blancpain Endurance Series titles go down to the wire in Germany
  • Kazuki Hoshino races at the Nurburgring for NISMO Global Driver Exchange
  • Jann Mardenborough doubles up on GT and F3 duty
  • FIA World Endurance Championship heads Stateside to Texas
  • Two new GT Academy graduates join Tomas Scheckter for Silverstone 1000kms
NURBURGRING, Germany - Nissan takes its team of talented gamers to the Nurburgring in Germany this weekend for the final round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.  The result of this race will decide both the driver and team titles in the Pro-Am class of the 2013 Series. 
T
he Pro-Am team championship is a straight fight between Nissan and Ferrari, currently separated by just one point with Nissan having the upper hand.
 
Lucas Ordonez leads the Pro-Am driver's championship ahead of teammates Peter Pyzera and Alex Buncombe, but with 33 points awarded to the race winner that title battle is still wide open.
Nissan GT Academy Team RJN will field two cars for this event. The No.35 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 will be raced by Lucas Ordonez, Wolfgang Reip and Peter Pyzera, while the sister No.32 GT-R will be in the hands of Alex Buncombe, Mark Shulzhitskiy and Jann Mardenborough who will also be competing in the British F3 International Series at the Nurburgring this weekend.
 
The final event of the Blancpain Endurance Series is a one-off 1000kms race so tactics and strategy will play a key part in the outcome. Lucas Ordonez is ready to get out there and fight for the championship.
"It's a long race so anything can happen but I will be racing with the championship in my mind," said Lucas. "It will be a tough track for us so we really need to nail the set up.  I've not actually raced on the Grand Prix track before but I have done many driving events there. I won my class at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2012 though so it is a good place for me.  This is a very important event for me, for Nissan and for GT Academy. It has been a very busy and very exciting year and I hope we can finish it with a championship in our hands."
 
Like Lucas, Peter Pyzera has never competed on the Grand Prix track but he knows it well from taking part in many track days there.
 
"I really like the atmosphere at the Nurburgring and that fact that this is my home race makes a big difference to me," said Peter. "It is only two hours from my home so I hope to get a lot of local support. I have a good feeling about this race. To be honest the only time I haven't had a good feeling before a race was at Ricard and that didn't go well at all! This is my first season as a racing driver and we are going to the last race leading the championship. I'm very proud to be part of this team and I hope we can hit our targets at the Nurburgring.  It would be great to stay in front of Ferrari and maybe get a podium. To win the championship would be fantastic so like always I will give 100% and see what happens."
 
The Nurburgring 1000kms will also see another NISMO Exchange taking place when NISMO's Kazuki Hoshino jumps into the No.23 JRM Racing GT-R with Peter Dumbreck and Steven Kane.
 
"Thank you very much to Nissan for giving me the chance to race in Blancpain, said Kazuki. "I am very interested in the series and I like the track so much.  I have been there five times for the Nurburgring 24 Hours but not this year so I am pleased to go there again. It is good to be part of the NISMO Global Driver Exchange. I was very surprised and impressed by the three drivers who have been over to Japan so far (Lucas, Alex and Jann).  They only needed three laps to get used to driving at a new track before they were putting in very quick laps. I also really enjoyed racing with Lucas. He is a good guy with a great racing ability and I hope to race and share the same car with him again."
 
MOMENT OF TRUTH ARRIVES FOR TWO MORE GT ACADEMY GRADUATES
While most of the GT Academy graduates are fighting for the Blancpain title at the Nurburgring, two of the newest winners will be taking part in their prize drive at Silverstone.
 
Salman Al Khater and Ashley Oldfield are the winners of the 2012 GT Academy competitions in the Middle East and South Africa respectively.  Since winning GT Academy last March, Salman and Ashley have been on an intensive driver development program to prepare for them for international competition.  Like Lucas Ordonez, Jann Mardenborough and all of the winners before them their prize is to compete in an international endurance event in a Nissan 370Z NISMO GT4 race car. 
 
An important part of the GT Academy process is the lessons the winners learn from their mentors. Lucas was mentored by Johnny Herbert in 2008, and the ex-F1 star joined Lucas on the grid for the 2009 Dubai 24 Hours.  For Ashley and Salman, they have the expertise of Tomas Scheckter to call upon as the successful South African racer will join them for the Silverstone 1000kms this weekend.
 
NISSAN LOOKING TO CONTINUE CLEAN SWEEP
Philippe Sinault's Signatech Team won the European Le Mans Series race at the Hungaroring last weekend, leading home a Nissan-powered 1-2-3-4 and continuing the clean sweep of Nissan victories in both the ELMS and FIA WEC.
 
The FIA World Endurance Championship moves to the United States this weekend to race at the Circuit of the Americas in Houston.  With seven LM P2 cars powered by Nissan the racing will be as close as ever so tune into radiolemans.com or catch the action live at fiawec.com when the race gets underway on today.
 
CREDIT: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-s-championship-battle-to-be-decided-at-the-nurburgring
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nissan racing Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Mossy Nissan

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