Nissan Motorsport unveils four-car factory v8 supercar team

February 12, 2013

• Nissan Altima V8 Supercars backed by Jack Daniel's and Norton unveiled
• James Moffat and Michael Caruso join Todd and Rick Kelly as factory Nissan Motorsport drivers in 2013 V8 Supercars Championship

MELBOURNE, Australia – Nissan Motorsport has stepped out in style at the team's launch in Melbourne, Australia today.

The factory outfit unveiled its Nissan Altima V8 Supercars in 2013 race colours and driver line-up at the Melbourne Showgrounds, the latest chapter in Nissan's long-awaited return to Australian touring car racing.

It was confirmed that James Moffat and Michael Caruso will both join Nissan Motorsport, driving Altimas backed by leading internet security company Norton by Symantec and becoming factory drivers for the first time in their careers.

The familiar black and white colours of global whiskey giant Jack Daniel's have now been transferred to two Nissan Altimas to be driven by Nissan Motorsport co-owners Todd and Rick Kelly.

Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO William F Peffer Jr said that the team unveiling was yet another significant milestone for Nissan Motorsport.

"Last October we unveiled the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar but today, we're unveiling the Nissan Motorsport team," said William F Peffer Jr.

"Our Altimas are now in combat colours and ready for battle. Nissan is thrilled to be partnering with strong, global brands like Jack Daniel's and Norton.

"Nissan has a raft of new models soon to be released in Australia, including the all-new Altima sedan.

"The 2013 V8 Supercar Championship is an important part of the Nissan Altima's marketing strategy. Australian new car buyers will have an entire year to get to know the Altima name and shape before it goes on sale later this year.

"The V8 Supercar Championship is also a great environment to showcase our brand and the innovation and excitement Nissan seeks to deliver.

"2013 is guaranteed to be an exciting year for the sport of V8 Supercars, and especially for Nissan Motorsport."

Nissan Motorsport Commercial Director Rick Kelly said it was a proud day for the team.

"Today is an incredibly exciting day for our team and actually it comes almost 12 months to the day after we first announced our partnership with Nissan," said Rick Kelly.

"Not only do we officially welcome James, Michael and Norton to Nissan Motorsport, but we also unveil our Nissan Altima V8 Supercars in race trim, including the first black and white Nissan Altima of our long-time friends at Jack Daniel's, as well as marking the next significant step in Nissan Motorsport's journey to the grid."

Nissan Motorsport Racing Director Todd Kelly is confident that the team is ready for the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship.

"I'm so immensely proud of each and every person at Nissan Motorsport," said Todd Kelly.

"So much time and effort has gone into designing, constructing and assembling our four Nissan Altima V8 Supercars. We've strengthened every area of our team over the last 12 months in preparation for the 2013 season and I'm confident that all our work and effort will pay off this season."

To date the first Nissan Altima V8 Supercar has completed a series of aerodynamic homologation test runs as well as circuit tests at both Winton Motor Raceway in Benalla, Victoria and Sydney Motorsport Park (Eastern Creek) in Sydney, New South Wales. 

Nissan Motorsport's four Altimas will be on-track at the annual V8 Supercars Championship pre-season test day at Sydney Motorsport Park this Saturday February 16.

Nissan Motorsport will then complete its journey to the grid on March 1-3 at the Clipsal 500 at the Adelaide Parklands street circuit in Adelaide, South Australia, the opening event of the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship.

QUOTES – NISSAN MOTORSPORT 2013 TEAM LAUNCH

Executives

WILLIAM F PEFFER JR – Managing Director and CEO, Nissan Motor Co. Australia

"Last October we unveiled the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar but today, we're unveiling the Nissan Motorsport team," said William F Peffer Jr.

"Our Altimas are now in combat colours and ready for battle. Nissan is thrilled to be partnering with strong, global brands like Jack Daniel's and Norton.

"Nissan has a raft of new models soon to be released in Australia, including the all-new Altima sedan.

"The 2013 V8 Supercar Championship is an important part of the Nissan Altima's marketing strategy. Australian new car buyers will have an entire year to get to know the Altima name and shape before it goes on sale later this year.

"The V8 Supercar Championship is also a great environment to showcase our brand and the innovation and excitement Nissan seeks to deliver.

"2013 is guaranteed to be an exciting year for the sport of V8 Supercars, and especially for Nissan Motorsport."

JEFF FISHER – General Manager – Motorsport, Nissan Motor Co. Australia

"The Nissan Motorsport team has accomplished a herculean task in getting four Nissan Altimas and several V8 alloy VK56 race engines ready for this weekend's test," said Jeff Fisher.

"When we turn the first wheel at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide in a few weeks' time, the eyes of the Nissan world will be upon us. Everyone is fascinated.

"It's been 20 years since we raced. Winning will be quicker."

MATTHEW DRAKE – Senior Director for Pacific, Norton by Symantec

"This will be our sixth consecutive year supporting V8 Supercars, and to have two new Nissans in Norton livery reflects our commitment to the sport and the fans, who so passionately follow the series," said Matthew Drake.

"We are very excited about the partnership with Nissan Motorsport and we enter the 2013 V8 season with a shared objective to deliver outstanding results on the track, and to activate our sponsorship off the track."

MARSHALL FARRER – Managing Director, Brown-Forman Australia & New Zealand

"The move to Nissan for the Jack Daniel's Racing team is significant and, first and foremost, we now have the potential to consistently field a very competitive product on the track day in and day out," said Marshall Farrer.

"Nissan has a track record of driving innovation and winning in motorsports and that aligns with the Jack Daniel's philosophy. We're looking for new ways to dial up the excitement, reach our consumers and achieve performance. It's absolutely exciting to be associated with that."

"It's the first year for all teams in respect to the Car of the Future, so it's a bit of a clean slate. There are some strong teams out there that have performed well in recent years, but we now have impressive new technology via Nissan and probably the best engineering team behind Jack Daniel's Racing, so our expectations for the season are high."

Nissan Motorsport Drivers

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"In these situations at the start of a year, especially when you have to build all new cars and new team, you never really realise what you've achieved, and you don't really feel what you've entered into until you pull the covers of the car at the launch every year," said Todd Kelly.

"To pull the covers off the car and see the Jack Daniel's signage, with all the drivers standing there in their Sunday shirts for the first time and the actual car in its livery,especially with the Nissan badge, really hits home.

"To realise the great drivers and great sponsors we've got and also that we're officially a factory team, I think that will really hit us all hard and I think everyone is quite proud."

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"For me personally the launch of the new Jack Daniel's Racing livery is a very exciting time," said Rick Kelly.

"Over the last 12 months we've gone through a huge process with the conversion from Holden to Nissan and a number of releases from the shape of the Altima, to the engine, to the actual race car look and from that point on we've spent a lot of time with Jack Daniel's and internally here at Nissan Motorsport developing a livery that is a real departure from what you've seen for the past couple of years.

"For us what you see today is something that we've spent a lot of time working on and something we think is quite different to what you've seen before, like I touched on, and it's something we're quite excited about.

"It's a new time for us in Nissan Motorsport, for the whole team, and this year we're reallyhoping for some fantastic results and we've got all the tools now in the box to go and do that, and whilst we do that it's important to look right and we really think we've hit the nail on the head this year."

MICHAEL CARUSO - #36 Norton Nissan Altima

"Every kid who dreams of being a racer wants to be part of a factory race team, so I'm delighted to be joining Nissan and Norton 360 Racing to compete in the 2013 Championship," said Michael Caruso.

"This is a tremendous career opportunity for me, and I am looking forward to working with Norton and Nissan to make this year a great success."

JAMES MOFFAT - #360 Norton Nissan Altima

"I am super pumped about stepping up to a full factory program with Nissan, and to continue my long relationship with Norton, it's fantastic," said James Moffat.

"I've driven the all-new Nissan Altima a few times now and it's a serious contender, there's so much potential there, I think the Norton 360 Racing team will be in very good shape this year."

Follow Nissan Motorsport

Twitter: @Nissan_MSport

Facebook: Facebook.com/NissanMotorsportAus

Instagram: NissanMotorsport

Web: http://www.nissanmotorsport.com.au

Rick Kelly on Twitter: @RickKelly

Michael Caruso on Twitter: @MichaelCarus0

James Moffat on Twitter: @J_Moffat

For Nissan Australia news and social media links please visit the all-new Nissan.com.au

NISSAN MOTORSPORT: TIMELINE

9 February 2012
Nissan announces factory entry in the V8 Supercars Championship from 2013, partnering with Kelly Racing, team to be renamed Nissan Motorsport and field four entries. In the week prior, Todd Kelly and team engineers visit NISMO headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

17 March 2012
Simon Sproule, Corporate Vice President – Global Marketing Communications, Nissan Motor Company, tours team facility and meets with key staff while in Melbourne for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

5 April 2012
Rick Kelly attends New York Auto Show for the global unveil of the 2013 Nissan Altima. Nissan confirms that the Altima will be sold in Australia from 2013 and that the Altima will be raced by Nissan Motorsport in the V8 Supercars Championship. Kelly meets with Nissan global CEO Carlos Ghosn and discusses V8 Supercars and Nissan Motorsport plans.

18-20 May 2012
Yasuharu Kamei, General Manager – Development Department, NISMO, tours team facility, meets with key staff and attends V8 Supercars Championship event at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria.

27 June 2012
Media Release confirming arrival of Nissan parts at Kelly Racing in Melbourne via freight from the United States.

4 September 2012
The Nissan Motorsport VK56DE engine, a production-based engine that will also power the all-new 2013 Nissan Patrol, unveiled at team facility by Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO William F Peffer Jr and team Racing Director and co-owner Todd Kelly.

30 October 2012
Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO William F Peffer Jr is joined by team co-owners and drivers Todd and Rick Kelly to unveil the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar for the first time in Melbourne, Australia.

2 November 2012
Todd Kelly becomes the first person to drive a Nissan Altima V8 Supercar as the car undertakes a shakedown run at Calder Park Raceway in Melbourne, Australia ahead of aerodynamic testing and homologation.

12 February 2013
Nissan Motorsport team is launched in Melbourne, Victoria as Nissan Altima V8 Supercars are unveiled in 2013 race colours. Confirmation that James Moffat and Michael Caruso will join the team to drive Norton-backed Nissan Altimas with Todd and Rick Kelly to pilot black and white Jack Daniel's Nissan Altimas.

MAJOR MILESTONES: NISSAN'S AUSTRALIAN TOURING CAR HERITAGE

1984
Nissan takes pole position for the Bathurst 1000 with driver George Fury in a Nissan Bluebird in lap record time

1986
Nissan takes pole position for the Bathurst 1000 with driver Gary Scott in a Nissan Skyline Turbo

1990
Nissan wins the Australian Touring Car Championship with driver Jim Richards in the Nissan GT-R and Nissan Skyline GTS-R

1991
Nissan wins the Australian Touring Car Championship with driver Jim Richards in the Nissan GT-R

1991
Nissan wins the Bathurst 1000 with drivers Jim Richards and Mark Skaife in the Nissan GT-R in race record time

1992
Nissan wins the Australian Touring Car Championship with driver Mark Skaife in the Nissan GT-R

21 June 1992
Mark Skaife wins the final two races of the 1992 Australian Touring Car Championship at Oran Park Raceway to seal the title – Nissan wins its last Australian Touring Car Championship race

1992
Nissan wins the Bathurst 1000 with drivers Jim Richards and Mark Skaife in the Nissan GT-R

7-8 November 1992
Jim Richards wins both races in the non-championship event at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, South Australia – the Nissan GT-R wins its final race in Australian Touring Car racing before the precursor to V8 Supercars regulations are introduced for 1993.

1998
A Nissan Primera from the British Touring Car Championship was entered in the 1998 Bathurst 1000 for 'Super Tourer' cars, with drivers Steven Richards and Matt Neal finishing in second place.

KEY STATISTICS: NISSAN IN THE
AUSTRALIAN TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

• Nissan has won 28 Australian Touring Car Championship races – the most of any manufacturer outside of Holden and Ford
• Nissan has won 23 Australian Touring Car Championship pole positions – the most of any manufacturer outside of Holden and Ford
• Nissan has won two Bathurst 1000 races outright, the most of any manufacturer outside of Holden and Ford. Nissan, Ford and Holden are the only three manufacturers to have won multiple Bathurst 1000 races outright
• Nissan has won three Australian Touring Car Championships – ranked fourth behind Ford, Holden and Jaguar (Jaguar's four titles came when the championship was decided by a single race in the 1960s)