Nissan launches Bathurst attack!

A factory Nissan GT-R will return to Bathurst for the first time in 21 years next January, with the Japanese brand launching an outright attack on the Bathurst 12 Hour.

Run by Nissan’s global motorsport and performance division NISMO, the factory-backed racer will be piloted by two-time Bathurst winner, and Nissan V8 Supercar driver, Rick Kelly.

“In selecting the Bathurst 12 Hour as a key part of our 2014 racing program, Nissan has further cemented Australasia as a critical element of our global motorsport plans,” said Nissan global motorsport director Darren Cox.

“Mount Panorama is one of the world’s iconic racing circuits and the Nissan GT-R has incredible history there. We are pleased to be at Bathurst with Nissan Motorsport in V8 Supercars this October, and then again with the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 next February for the Bathurst 12 Hour.”

It will be the first time since 1992 that a factory GT-R has tackled the Mountain, when Mark Skaife and Jim Richards then took a controversial victory in the iconic Bathurst 1000.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity to race a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 at the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour,” said Kelly.

“The GT-R is an amazing car in its standard form, so in Nismo GT3 race-specification, I think it will be capable of great things.