Nissan’s V8 Supercar Assault

By RacingNation Crew
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Updated: April 1, 2013

Fans at this year’s Austin 400 will get the chance to see two new manufacturers do battle in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship.

Nissan and Mercedes-Benz became the first two automotive makers to join the V8 Supercar grid this year since the Australian championship became an exclusive Ford vs Holden (GM) battle in 1995.

For Nissan, it is a return to “Down Under” competition after previously dominating the series then known as the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1990, 91 and 92. Nissan drivers Jim Richards and Mark Skaife also won the Bathurst 1000 – the Australian equivalent of the Daytona 500 – in 1991 and 92.

Nissan’s return to the sport has been entrusted to the Melbourne-based Kelly Racing squad run by Bathurst-winning brothers Todd and Rick Kelly

Click on the video link above to view the video about the development of the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar.

Now known as Nissan Motorsport, the team is doing battle with a four car squad backed by U.S. companies. Todd and Rick Kelly drive the two Jack Daniels supported entries with James Moffatt and Michael Caruso aboard a pair of Nissan Altimas backed by computer security software maker, Norton.

The team has an additional link to the US with the Nissan Altima road car built in Smyrna, Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi. Nissan Motorsport will do battle against Ford, Holden (GM) and Mercedes-Benz at the Circuit of the Americas from May 17 to 19.

The team faced a huge task over the past 12 months as it transitioned from running Holdens in V8 Supercars last year while simultaneously kicking off the Nissan campaign

“I’m so immensely proud of each and every person at Nissan Motorsport,” said Todd Kelly (pictured above.)

“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.”