Nissan’s GT-R has had some success in the past, as it won the Japanese SUPER GT Series GT 500 class championship in it's debut season - 2008 - and managed to scored 4 victories in 2009. This year, the Japanese have prepared three 500 bhp GT-R racing cars. Apart from its factory team, Nissan will also offer technical support for private teams through Nismo.
According to Nissan, it will take part in these competitions:
1. SUPER GT
- Vehicles: The R35 model Nissan GT-R will take part in the GT500 class of the SUPER GT series. NISMO will develop the cars and provide technical support for participating teams. A newly developed 3.4 litre engine (VRH34A) will be installed to the 2010 NISSAN GT-R's specification.
- Team Composition: NISMO, TEAM IMPUL and KONDO RACING will deploy one car each, for a total of three Nissan GT-Rs competing across the Nissan teams. A new combination of top-class drivers will join this season. Additionally, the teams are collaborating with three tyre manufacturers to deal with the various racing environments and circuits. Kunihiko Kakimoto will continue as the general director of the teams driving Nissan cars.
2. FIA GT1
- World Championship Vehicles: NISMO will supply four R35 model NISSAN GT-Rs for the private teams participating in the FIA GT1 World Championship, as well as provide technical support. Based on the data obtained last season from four races in the FIA GT Championship's GT1 class, Nissan reinforced GT-Rs' endurance reliability to the 2010 vehicle specification, in addition to improving aerodynamic performance and weight saving as well as increasing dynamic performance.
- Team Composition: In accordance with the rules of the FIA GT1 World Championship, no manufacturer teams will compete, though they are allowed to provide technical support. A total of four Nissan GT-Rs will compete in the championship, in accordance with the rules (two teams per manufacturer, each with two vehicles entered).
- SUMO POWER GT: a new team established this year in the U.K. to participate in the FIA GT1 World Championship. The team principal is James Rumsey; team manager is Allen Orchard; and chief engineer is Nigel Stepney.
- SWISS RACING TEAM: established in 2000 in Switzerland. Partnered with Jetalliance Racing and K plus K Motorsport, has won seven times in the GT1 class since 2007. Karl Wendlinger won the opening round of the FIA GT series last year with the team. The team principal is Othmar Welti; team manager is Eric Corbe.
3. Support Programme:
- Nissan Driver Development Programme (NDDP) / Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ) Nissan will continue to support Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ), which started in 2006 with the aim of educating young drivers to enable them to compete worldwide. NISMO will lead engine maintenance work.
- In addition, four young drivers are chosen as Nissan scholarship drivers, receiving support to run in FCJ. Two more individuals will be selected as Nissan Advance Scholarship drivers, and this year will once again take part in the National (N) Class of the All-Japan F3 Championship.
- NDDP Advance Scholarship Drivers: Kimiya Sato (20), Daiki Sasaki (18)
- NDDP Scholarship Drivers: Takayoshi Matsui (22), Tsubasa Kondo (20), Daiwei Zhu (19, China), Mitsunori Takaboshi (17)
China Touring Car Championship (CTCC) Nissan will continue to give technical support to the Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd. for the Nissan Tiida competing in the 1600cc class. The CTCC is China's most competitive national championship for racing cars produced in China. The championship was won in 2006 and 2008.
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