NISSAN MOTORSPORT TO CONCENTRATE ON OFF ROAD RACING
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Nissan Motorsport, the Midrand-based motor racing division of Nissan South Africa, is to concentrate its efforts on national championship off road racing in 2009, a category of motor sport it has dominated since 2001. The Sasol Nissan 350Z circuit racing team will make its farewell appearance in the final round of this season’s Bridgestone Production Car Championship at Cape Town’s Killarney circuit on November 15.
Nissan will continue with its off road racing programme which has brought it seven successive drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships and six manufacturers’ championships since 2001. Nissan has won six of the seven rounds of the 2008 championship held to date and is in a strong position to add both the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships at the season-ending RFS Magalies 400 in Gauteng on November 21 and 22.
“We have enjoyed many successes and won numerous championships in touring and production car racing over the years,” said Johan Kleynhans, marketing and sales director of Nissan SA. “But now it is time for us to move on and focus all our energies on off road racing, a category of motor sport that has brought us a record 50 victories in the 63 races we have entered.
“Our off road racing Nissan Hardbody and Navara pickups, developed and built by us in South Africa, have not only proved themselves in the domestic championship but also in the hands of a growing band of overseas customers in national and international competition, including the Dakar Rally,” added Kleynhans.
A total of 24 Nissan Hardbody and Navara racing pickups have been built by Nissan Motorsport since 2000, of which 19 have been exported overseas
South African-built Nissan Navaras have won national championships in Russia and Hungary this year as well as finished second in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.
Title sponsor Sasol has indicated its continued support for Nissan Motorsport. “Nissan’s withdrawal from circuit racing does not affect the relationship with Sasol and we will remain a sponsorship partner. The relationship has always been rewarding and we look forward to continued success with Nissan in off road racing,” said Dean Somerset, Sasol Oil’s head of motor sport sponsorships.
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