Nissan is rolling out its latest racer for the first big race of the 2012 season: the Nissan GT-R GT3 will compete in the Dubai 24 Hours Jan. 13.
The Nissan GT-R GT3, developed in conjunction with JRM Racing, which took the GT-R GT1 to victory in its first season in FIA GT1 competition, will debut in Dubai, driven by Michael Krumm, Tom Kimber-Smith, Franck Mailleux, and Alex Buncombe.
Michael Krumm is one of the drivers who earned the GT-R GT1 its 2011 championship win; he also drove Nissans to titles I Super GT 2005–2007) and five JGTC titles. Tom Kimber-Smith won the LMS LMP2 championship and the Le Mans 24 P2 class in 2011, which he also won in 2006. Franck Mailleux won the 2011 ILMC LMP2 title, and Alex Buncombe took the 2011 Blancpain GT4 crown for RJN Racing, repeating his 2009 achievement. He, like his co-drivers, has many seasons of 24-hour racing experience.
“2011 was a great year for Nissan and I am very much looking forward to racing the new GT3 car in Dubai,” said Michael Krumm in Nissan press release. “The Nissan GT-R took us all the way to the top in 2011 so I hope we can have a good race with the new car.”
Along with the GT-RGT3, Nissan is also entering a Nissan 370Z piloted by past and present Nissan/PlayStation GT Academy graduates.
Many people thought Nissan execs were crazy when they announced that the best Playstation video racers would get a shot at a ride in a real car. When 2008 winner Lucas Ordonez turned his video-gaming ability into a successful pro racing career, minds changed.
For Dubai, 2012, Ordonez and 2009 winner Jordan Tresson will join the latest Euro and U.S. GT Academy winners Jann Mardenborough and Bryan Heitkotter.
“It’s a good feeling for me to go back to Dubai, as this is where it all really started for me, just three years ago,” said Ordonez. “I know that Jann [Mardenborough] and Bryan [Heitkotter] will be very nervous but also very excited to take their GT Academy prize and compete in this race. It’s going to be a tough race due to the heat but I am convinced that Jann and Bryan will prove that they are real racing drivers now, just as Jordan and I did last year.”
RJN Motorsports is entering a second 370Z for Humaid Al Masaood, Richard Meaden, and Tetsuya Tanaka. Masaood is a native of the United Arasb Emirates, so competing at Dubai hold special meaning for him.
“I have competed successfully in the previous two Dubai 24s with my own team—to be invited to race with Nissan and their three-car assault is a great honor and a new challenge,” said Al Masaood. “Although I am now racing in the USA there is something very special about racing in my local 24-Hour race—it is this race that has helped me develop as a driver. I am looking forward to working with Nissan and my co-drivers and hopefully delivering a great result.”
The Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai starts at 2 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET) Friday, Jan 13. For viewing options check out the official website, www.24hdubai.com. From Jan 8th until the end of the race, visit http://live.24hseries.com for live streaming and live timing.
