#Nissan #GTR - Nissan will be lining up two FIA
GT3-spec GT-Rs on the start line of the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge at
the Circuit of the Americas March 6-8. Sponsored by Always Evolving,
Replay XD cameras, and Nismo, the two entrants will be driven by
American GT Academy winner Bryan Heitkotter and Australian racer James
Davison. AIM Motorsport, the Canadian race shop founded by Roger Rodas and Erik Davis, will handle preparation of the car. It will be the first time the GT3 GT-R has come to race in America. It will race in a highly varied field, with Audi, Ferrari, Dodge, and Aston Martin among the series runners. Check out the press release below for more details.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. 19/02/15 – Nissan Motorsports announced today a
partnership with Always Evolving (AE) to campaign two GT Academy-NISMO
Nissan GT-R GT3 racing cars for the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge season. Nissan GT Academy North America 2011 winner Bryan Heitkotter will drive
one of the team cars, while Australian open wheel and GT star James
Davison will pilot the second car. Featuring logos from the GT Academy
program, the two cars will be co-sponsored by Replay XD and NISMO.
AE will utilize AIM Autosport for much of the car preparation and
on-track support during the season. Based in Los Angeles, the team was
founded in March 2013 by friends Roger Rodas and Erik Davis as a
platform combine their passion for cars and their desire to support
their favorite charitable organizations. Following Rodas' tragic passing
in November 2013, the team has established "Racing in Honor" as their
internal mission for the 2014 season in his memory. AIM won the 2012
IMSA GTD team, driver and manufacturer championships, as well as the
2013 manufacturer title while campaigning a Ferrari.
"Nissan couldn't be happier to have Always Evolving and AIM as Nissan's
partners to campaign the first GT3 spec GT-Rs in the U.S. in Pirelli
World Challenge," said Rick Kulach, Nissan North America Motorsports
Manager. "This partnership is a great opportunity to showcase Bryan's
talents alongside James, who is a rising star in motorsports. It's
exciting to have a GT Academy champion in a great car racing at this
level."
"We are extremely excited to partner with Nissan in Pirelli World
Challenge," said Erik Davis, Chairman of AE. "Our two brands have had a
distant relationship for many years, and to be able to now officially
launch an effort together bringing the Nissan NISMO GT3 GT-R to North
America is humbling to say the least. We look forward to showcasing the
team, our drivers, the GT Academy and our sponsors in a very competitive
platform."
Heitkotter, 34, won North America's first gamer-to-racer GT Academy
competition in 2011. In 2012 and 2013 while driving a Nissan 370Z NISMO
for Doran Racing, Heitkotter earned three pole positions, two second
qualifying spots, four top 10 finishes and a podium. In 2014, Bryan
switched to a Nissan Altima for the CA Sports team. There, he earned
three podiums and four top five finishes in the Pirelli World Challenge
Touring Car (TC) category in six events. Most recently, behind the wheel
of the Doran #41 370Z NISMO, Heitkotter and GT Academy teammate Nick
McMillen finished sixth overall in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar
Series (CTSCC) race at Daytona International Speedway in January 2015.
"I have been watching the Pirelli World Challenge gain momentum over the
past couple years, and I'm absolutely thrilled to help represent Nissan
in this highly competitive series," said Heitkotter. "The GT-R has
proven to be a spectacular racing car, and I can't wait to see what we
can all accomplish together."
Davison, 28, was born in Melbourne, Australia and moved to the United
States when he was 18 years of age to develop his skills in open wheel
racing. His career highlights include a 2005 victory in Formula BMW at
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a runner-up finish in the 2007 Star Mazda
Championship, and second spot in the 2009 Indy Lights Championship.
Davison ran up front during the 2014 Indianapolis 500 driving for Always
Evolving KV Racing Technology, finishing the race in 16th position. In
his limited time in sports cars he has always been at the front, driving
for the TRG-Aston Martin team in IMSA competition. Davison has recorded
five consecutive poles in IMSA including pole position at the 2015
Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
"We have great confidence in Erik (Davis)'s vision and ability to
campaign a competitive car at a high level every race," added Kulach.
"James Davison is not only a talented young race driver, but he's also a
great sportsman and will be an outstanding representative for the
Nissan brand."
The first Pirelli World Challenge Race for 2015 will be at Circuit of
the Americas in Austin, Texas March 6-8. Television broadcast times have
not yet been announced and the series will be webcast via
www.world-challengetv.com.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the
environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an
ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 by the
U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North
America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be
found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the
Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.
About Always Evolving
Always Evolving is an integrated media and technology company with a
diversified portfolio of software and hardware assets. The company
recently acquired the Replay XD action camera system and is hard at work
making sure more consumers, athletes and video producers love its
cameras and video-based experiences. Based in San Francisco, California,
Always Evolving's products and services are quickly becoming the only
choice for action camera, drone and POV camera buyers and video
producers everywhere.
About AIM Autosport
Established in 1995, AIM Autosport is a Canadian sports team operating
multi-car teams in professional sportscar racing. AIM's success has been
achieved through the dedication of its employees and the continuous
support of the team's commercial and technical partners. Away from the
track, AIM Autosport serves the needs of the racing community with a
purpose-built preparation shop situated in the Toronto suburb of
Woodbridge, Ontario.
About Nissan GT Academy
GT Academy is a competition created by Nissan and PlayStation® that
unites the worlds of virtual and real-life racing to make the dreams of
aspiring race drivers become a reality. The competition, which
originally launched in Europe in 2008, finds the best Gran Turismo®
players from across the participating countries by testing their skills
in an online gaming qualification process. They will then compete
against each other in live National Finals before the winners from each
final switch to driving real Nissan cars at the now-famous Silverstone
"Race Camp."
The overall winner of GT Academy is then trained in the multiple areas
required to become a professional racing driver, if the winner makes the
grade they will compete in the Dubai 24 Hour race for Nissan and have
the chance to be considered for a future career with Nissan as a "NISMO
Athlete."
Title : GT-R GT3 cars in 2015 Pirelli World Challenge series
Description : #Nissan #GTR - Nissan will be lining up two FIA GT3-spec GT-Rs on the start line of the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge at the Circuit of...