Jalopnik
Nissan and Nissan Motorsports (NISMO) will not be sponsoring or officially participating in any motorsports activities in North American on the verge of bringing over the GT-R, the most ferocious sports car from Nissan ever for North America. Earlier in the day we reported on a rumor that Nissan was getting out of American motorsports and we now have confirmation from Nissan. According to Scott Vazin, Director of Product Communications for Nissan Motor Company, though they're getting out for [Fiscal Year] 2008, "we'll keep a presence around the world."
Vazin went on to say "It's not all or nothing, we're certainly reviewing it against a larger motorsports strategy, but for 2008 we're taking a pause." He wouldn't give a reason for doing so, other than saying they're working on strategy, but he did deny that it was at all a financial decision.
On the awkward timing given the introduction of the Nissan GT-R, Vazin responded with questions "The GT-R goes on sale in June, so we're a good six months away [and] the company is considering what to do with the GT-R. Can we go racing with it? What series could we be in that would be consistent across all markets?"
Though he insisted that Nissan was out of racing for FY2008, which for Nissan means March 31, 2009, the door was left open for the future "At the moment we finished CORR (Championship Off Road Racing) season for 2007 and felt pretty good about where we ended, and now it's a chance to reflect on what's the return and where we can make a difference."
You heard it here first. Nissan is out. Does this mean a great return in FY 2009 highlighted by a NISMO racing GT-R? Or will Nissan's reflection lead to them continuing their motorsports freeze? Only time will tell.
Comments
Considering their recent corporate relo to TN it's clear that Nissan is a bit out of touch with the rest of the automotive world that keep primary offices or at least design centers in CA
Its amazing they were able to cover as much motorsports ground for so long with so few people/resources.
Fuck.
@scotte: Couldn't have said it better.
I'm thinking a try at Nextel cup starting midseason '09, with a full schedule in '10. Joe Sixpack would be mighty PO'ed if the top 10 at Daytona was 6 'Yodas, 3 Nissans and a Ford....
oh cock, those racing trucks are tops.
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Maybe the 2008 race cars will change their branding to Datsun?
That's gotta hurt for CORR in a big way.
Bring back the BRE Datsun 510's and the Electromotive/NPTI Nissan 300ZX in IMSA GTS trim and all will be forgiven.
Nissan was the biggest supporter manufacturer wise in CORR, this hurts. :(
Wasn't it a couple of weeks ago that Ghosn posed in a race suit next to the GT-R? He might as well have been wearing a skirt.
@Mike the Dog: It hasn't been the "Nextel" cup for most of this year. (And I don't even like that turn-left crap.)
Seriously, how is this news? They weren't exactly a major force in North American motor sports. You might as well announce that VW won't be running any monster trucks in 2008.
@mcguirev10: Not true. Nextel Cup for 2007; switched to Sprint Cup for '08 because Sprint bought Nextel. And I don't follow that roundy-round crap either.
@mcguirev10: actually, it was Nextel Cup all year... the Sprint name change is for the 08 season.
i inda wonder how high up this decision goes... i know Ghosn isn't really a race fan at all (he's been looking for any excuse to shut down Renault F1)...
Fingers crossed for a GT-R-based ALMS GT1 or GT2 entry.
Looks like they've even suspended the picture of the truck already. Feh.
@diskreet: Maybe they're taking a year off to come back in '09, all guns blazing, with a GT1-class GT-R?
the white truck in the snow blizzard rox
oh man I need rest
What, Nissan isnt getting in on NASCAR? Darn...
@Mike the Dog: Hahaha, yeah that'd be the day. Couldnt Toyota and Nissan just be content with a few billboards at the track?
I mean unless they start running production engines, wtf is the point. Yota and Nissan dont build pushrods, so why pretend?
Toyota hasnt fooled anyone but Darrell Waltrip into thinking theyre an American car company...or have they?
@danio3834: Joe Gibbs, evidently.
@TomAnderson: No way the will put the GT-R into GT1, the last time they tried that, they got killed by the Mclaren F1 and the Mercedes CLK-GTR. Thats why they created the R390 GT1 (which wasn't that sucessfull either)... Come to think of it Nismo hasn't had the best of luck in the US...
Oh well, the best we can hope for is that the GT-R will one day duke it out with the C6.R's in GT2. *cross fingers*
@danio3834: Ford doesn't do pushrod V-8s anymore, either If I have my facts straight. Not for regular rear-drive cars and trucks, anyway.
@Mike the Dog: I don't follow NASCAR at all, but I believe they all have to run pushrods. What Danio is referring to is the fact that Toyota (and Nissan I think) have no pushrod motorsports legacy. At least nothing with 8 cylinders.
I think they'll be back. Likely they took a look at the bottom line and realized their motorsports efforts were becoming a money drain. They'll streamline and return. I personally would like to see some Japanese teams return to the European circuit.
@brandegee: "Yota and Nissan dont build pushrods, so why pretend?" Doesn't seem to refer to legacy. They both have plenty of pushrods in their past, but they've only had V-8s for 10 years or so. That being said I think Ford put its last pushrod V-8 in a Mustang about 1995 or so (go ahead and nitpick my numbers, everybody, they aren't researched). Personally I think NASCAR should return to the good old days of strict body templates and drivetrain homologation. It might make the sport more relevant.
@Rust-MyEnemy: ROFL!
Nissan did this back in the 80's with the H.D.R.A (High Desert Racing Association) that is now part of S.C.O.R.E.
Anyone remember the celebrity cup races?
They will be back...
"What series could we be in that would be consistent aross all markets?"
Back before the FIA became FOCA's lap dog, they would have an answer for this. Carmakers, please help ACCUS help you.
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