ANNOUNCEMENT ON GLOBAL MOTORSPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR 2009
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd (NISMO) today announced their global motorsport programme for 2009.
For 2009, Nissan continues to participate in the SUPER GT series, GT500 class, which is the highest level in Japanese domestic motorsports, with the Nissan GT-R. Nissan will also support grassroots activities in select countries outside of Japan to help nurture the motorsports culture, which has millions of fans throughout the world.
2. Private racers category
Global Race activities
Europe
To check the performance of cars to be sold to racing teams competing in the FIA-GT1 class, a NISMO-developed GT-R will run as a non-championship entry in 4 races in 2009, in a team partnership with Gigawave MotorSport. It is expected that the car is to be driven by Michael Krumm (NISMO) and Darren Turner (Gigawave).
Gigawave MotorSport, a racing team based in the county of Essex, England, has been competing in the FIA GT Championship since 2007. The teamfs parent company Gigawave Ltd., as an official partner of the FIA GT Championship, provides on-board cameras for real-time coverage of the races.
http://www.gigawavemotorsport.com/
Japanese domestic private teams
SUPER GT@GT300 class
Technical assistance will be given to private teams competing in Fairlady Zs.
Super Taikyu series
Technical assistance will be given to private teams competing in Fairlady Zs in both ST1 and ST3 classes.
March Cup series
Providing amateur racers a chance to experience the thrill of auto racing, Nissan holds the March Cup races (East Japan Series, West Japan Series, Nissan March Championship Cup). This pits private racers with actual racing conditions, with each car equipped with a data logger and GPS to record the racing lines taken by drivers. As previously announced, 2009 is the final run for the March Cup series.
China
Aiming for a 3rd championship win, Nissan and NISMO will provide technical assistance to its China partner Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd., which enters its Nissan Tiidas in the 1600cc Class of the China Circuit Championship (CCC). The event is the countryfs premier domestic racing event, where locally manufactured production-based race cars compete. Nissan Tiida won the title in 2006 and 2008.
South Africa
With 8 consecutive Driverfs championship wins, Nissan seeks to retain its title in the South Africa Off-Road Championship. Dominating the event will be the Nissan Navara, well known for its controlled performance and rugged reliability.
gMotorsports is an important part of Nissanfs strategy for building a strong brand with consumers who share our passion for high-performance driving,h said Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. gIn addition to being an important touch-point for consumers, motorsports serve as a dynamic proving ground for automotive innovation.h
1. SUPER GT
Vehicles
The R35 model Nissan GT-R@will be entered in the GT500 class of SUPER GT. This yearfs entries will incorporate changes that include an improved air-cooling system and a paddle-shift transmission. The vehicles also conform to the racing bodyfs latest regulation changes to decrease down force through shortened vehicle overhang. NISMO provides technical assistance and vehicle development to all participating teams.
Team Composition
This yearfs line-up of NISMO, HASEMI MOTORSPORT, TEAM IMPUL and KONDO RACING will deploy 1 car each for a total of 4 Nissan GT-Rs that will race in the GT500 class series. Kunihiko Kakimoto remains as general manager in charge of Nissan related teams with the NISMO team managed by Yutaka Suzuki. HASEMI MOTOR SPORT team welcomes to its roster Hironobu Yasuda, who trained in the rigorous Nissan Driver Development Program (NDDP). | 
