Nissan looks to emulate Silverstone success as GT1 World Championship moves on to Navarra

Nissan looks to emulate Silverstone success as GT1 World Championship moves on to Navarra

There was Championship Race joy for Nissan in the previous round of the FIA GT1 World Championship at Silverstone, and the two teams running the GT‑R this year will be looking for more of the same during the sixth race of the series in Spain, on a Navarra circuit that saw Nissan success in 2010.

At Silverstone, Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr, in the no.23 JR Motorsports car, took victory in the Championship Race to add to second place in the previous day's Qualifying Race, and with it secured their names on the prestigious RAC Tourist Trophy whilst also moving up to first place in the GT1 driver standings.

A repeat of the German duo's performance is what all eight Nissan drivers across the JRM and Sumo Power GT teams will be aiming for in the sunny climes of Northern Spain, but they will also be able to take inspiration from last year's corresponding race when Jamie Campbell-Walter and Warren Hughes (no.22 Sumo Power GT) clinched third spot in the Championship Race in a GT‑R much less competitive than the one running in the 2011 series.

Only completed in the second half of 2010, the Navarra complex is, as one might expect, state of the art, being awarded Formula One-worthy grading by the FIA. At 3.93km (2.644 miles), the course is well over a mile shorter than the GP circuit used last time out at Silverstone, with three less turns than its British counterpart (15 to Silverstone's 18). The track also has fewer of the fast, sweeping corners that benefitted the GT‑R at Silverstone, with more turns of the ‘tight and twisty' variety that could potentially count against the car's high centre of gravity. However, there are also a number of long straights and overtaking opportunities spread across the circuit, attributes that certainly play to the Nissan's strengths. 

Speaking ahead of the race, Jamie Campbell-Walter, driver of the no.21 Sumo Power GT alongside David Brabham, said: "David and I are personally not where we want to be at this point in the season, so we have to put that behind us and get back on form for the second half of the year. Therefore, our objective this weekend must be to score two top-three finishes. I like Navarra: it's a good track and I finished third in the Championship Race last year, so we all know the Nissan GT‑R can be quick there."

Lucas Luhr added: "The Championship Race at Silverstone was one of the most enjoyable of my career: close, hard, but fair racing, and a great team effort - it was just a perfect day!

"Like Silverstone, I have never visited Navarra, but that didn't seem to make a difference before and I hope it won't again. I aim to learn the track on Friday and then I think the weekend will be about scoring as many points as possible, especially taking into account the success ballast* we will now have to carry over from Silverstone. However, I'm optimistic that we can do well in Spain."

~ENDS~

*The no.23 JRM will be carrying an extra 35kg of success ballast weight in Navarra due to its high placing in both of the Silverstone weekend races (30kg for 1st in the Championship Race and 5kg for 2nd in the Qualifying Race).

Notes to editors:

Navarra race timings

Qualifying Race: 16.45 - 17.45pm (CEST), Saturday 2nd July

Championship Race: 13.45 - 14.45pm (CEST), Sunday 3rd July

Races can be followed live at http://www.gt1world.com/gt1tv

2011 Nissan drivers

Sumo Power GT

Nissan GT‑R No.20:                            Nick Catsburg (NL) & Enrique Bernoldi (Bra)

Nissan GT‑R No.21:                            Jamie Campbell-Walter (GB) & David Brabham (Aus)

JR Motorsports

Nissan GT‑R No.22:                            Peter Dumbreck (GB) & Richard Westbrook (GB)

Nissan GT‑R No.23:                            Michael Krumm (Ger) & Lucas Luhr (Ger)

Current standings after round 5 (Silverstone Championship Race) - Nissan teams/drivers in bold

Teams Championship

Drivers Championship

2011 Schedule

25-26 March                         Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi, UAE

8-10 April                              Zolder, Belgium

6-8 May                                Algarve, Portugal

13-15 May                             Sachsenring, Germany

3-5 June                                Silverstone, UK

1-3 July                                 Navarra, Spain

15-17 July                              Paul Ricard HTTT, France

2-4 September                        Ordos, China

21-23 October                        Curitiba, Brazil

4-6 November                         San Luis, Argentina