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News
2016.12.11
NISMO FESTIVAL Draws 30,000 Nissan and NISMO Fans! Vows Made to Recover the Title Next Year

NISMO FESTIVAL Draws 30,000 Nissan and NISMO Fans! Vows Made to Recover the Title Next Yearの画像

On Sunday, December 11th, the Nissan and NISMO motorsport event “NISMO FESTIVAL at FUJI SPEEDWAY 2016 Supported by MOTUL” took place at Fuji Speedway in fine weather with little of the usual chill of this time of year. Despite unfortunately being unable to win a third consecutive championship title in the GT500 class of the SUPER GT this season, like last year some 30,000 fans turned out and thoroughly enjoyed seeing and meeting the drivers and machines that competed this season and giving the drivers and team staff cheers of appreciation for a season of exciting racing.

At the finale, President/CEO Takao Katagiri of Nissan Motor Sports International (NISMO) rose to address the many fans that had stayed till the end of the event, apologizing for failing to win consecutive titles this year and stated his commitment to winning back the SUPER GT title in the 2017 season in return. That statement brought a big round of supportive applause and cheers from the fans, and inspired a spontaneous “Nissan, Nissan!” chant among them.

*Photo: NISMO FESTIVAL SECRETARIAT



 

Opening

The day’s excitement started in front of the Main Stage in the event square as early as 8:30 in the morning. At the “Opening Ceremony,” all of the participating drivers, team managers and legendary drivers were on hand. Rising first to speak on behalf of all the drivers was Toshikazu Tanaka, General Manager of Nissan SUPER GT teams. He reported to the fans on the results of this year’s SUPER GT competition, saying that although they had failed to win a third consecutive GT500 title, the Nissan teams had won five of the season’s eight rounds. This brought a big round of applause from the large group of fans gathered in front of the stage.
 


 

 

Circuit Safari, Circuit Taxi and Racing Car Ride-alongs

Again this year, the Fuji Speedway racetrack was the scene of a variety of events. Particularly popular were the simultaneously held Circuit Safari, Circuit Taxi and Racing Car Ride-alongs. The Circuit Safari is a familiar event also run at SUPER GT race events, and here at the NISMO FESTIVAL it featured a range of different racing cars running along with fan buses. Among the historic SUPER GT/JGTC models were the Group C cars that were the fastest in the 1980s into the 90s, and there were also sports cars that competed in the Japan Grand Prix in the 1960s and more. Some of the machines had specially equipped passenger seats that gave people the unforgettable experience of riding alongside a top driver. The Circuit Taxi event used complete cars released by NISMO. These events provided an once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Nissan and NISMO fans.



 

 

Stage Talk Shows

Attractions included a number of Talk Shows conducted at the Main Stage. The “NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3 Talk Show” featured the drivers and team managers of teams competing with NISMO GT3 machines in the GT300 class of SUPER GT, the Super Taikyu series ST-X class, and the Blancpain GT Series competed around Europe, and others.



 

The “SUPER GT Talk Show” featured TEAM IMPUL Team manager Kazuyoshi Hoshino, KONDO RACING Team manager Masahiko Kondo and MOLA Team manager Toshiomi Oeki, all of whom compete in the GT500 class of SUPER GT, joined by NISMO Team manager Yutaka Suzuki.



 

 

Grid Walk

Before the main racing course event, the NISMO GP, a Grid Walk was held. In this attraction, Nissan teams General Manager Toshikazu Tanaka used the No. 1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R parked at the very front as his teaching model to explain about the GT500 machines. He explained about the big changes made in the GT500 car regulation from 2013 into 2014 and then explained about the further changes that will go into effect from the 2017 season. The faces in the crowd listening to his explanations and the added statement that the 2017 changes will not be as numerous as the 2014 showed that they had understood the contents.



 

NISMO GP 2016

Once again, the NISMO GP proved to be the biggest attraction of the NISMO FESTIVAL. The four Nissan machines that competed in the GT500 class of this season’s SUPER GT series, the four competing in the GT300 class and the four competing in the Super Endurance series, the car that won this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour and the car that won this year’s Blancpain GT Series brought the total of NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT3 cars competing to eleven. Joining these were the three Fairlady Z machines competing in the Super Endurance series. In all, a total of 18 current Nissan racing cars competed in the 12-lap exhibition race. As a handicap for the faster four GT500 machines, they alone had to make a pit stop for a driver change and tire changes (taking the tires off and on again only).



 

In the race, the No. 1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R raced into the lead from pole position. However, it was passed later by the No. 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R. After a successful pit stop, car No. 12 ran on unchallenged to the win.


 

 

Finale

Bringing the day’s NISMO FESTIVAL to a close was the Finale that brought all the drivers and all of the participating machines together in a line in front of the Main Stand. Bouquets were presented to the KONDO RACING team in recognition of their first title win in the Super Endurance series. Then, a certificate of appreciation was presented by Nissan’s President Katagiri to Chairman Kurosawa of the Nissan Supporters Club that this year celebrated its 20th anniversary.



 

After this President Katagiri rose to speak, saying: “I want to apologize to all the fans who cheered for us this year for our disappointing result in our efforts to win a third consecutive GT500 title. But next year, we are going to do our best next season with our new machine now in development so that at next year’s [NISMO FESTIVAL] event I can stand here and report that we have won back the title.” With this statement of commitment, the NISMO FESTIVAL 2016 was brought to a close.

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