News
- 2019.12.08
- Fine Weather for “NISMO FESTIVAL” at Fuji Speedway! 28,000 fans celebrate the 50th anniversary of the birth of the GT-R and Fairlady Z
After of wave of cold weather since entering December, December 8th dawn with blue skies and not a cloud in sight over Fuji Speedway. On this the “NISMO FESTIVAL at FUJI SPEEDWAY” was held as the Nissan/NISMO fan day that brings the season to a close each year. This year being the 50th anniversary of the birth of for GT-R (Skyline GT-R and Fairlady Z that have participated in domestic races like SUPER GT and its predecessor, the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) as the Nissan flagship models, this year’s festival was full of events focused on these two models.
In this season’s SUPER GT series, the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R competed proudly for the season title right down to the last race of the series at Twin Ring Motegi. But what all the fans and everyone involved at Nissan/NISMO is the GT500 class championship. So, in addition to being an event for savoring the past 50 years, this day also became a chance for the team, the drivers and the fans to build motivation toward winning back the title next season.
■ Opening Ceremony
This year’s event opened with all the participating drivers coming down the walkway of the main stand to make their appearance. Then they lined up on the main straight for the opening ceremony. (Top photo)
First to speak was the executive director for the Nissan teams, NISMO’s COO Motohiro Matsumura, saying, “This season brought tough competition in the GT500 class, and I want to say thank you to all of the fans for your support throughout the season. All of our engineers are hard at work together on development now to make sure that we have a stronger car next season, so I hope you will all look forward to its performance.”
Next, driver Tsugio Matsuda of the No. 23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R team spoke. “I think we gave it our all to stay with the leaders right to the very end, but what we really wanted was the championship title. I am sure that all of the drivers gathered here today will be fighting the good fight with all they have next year. Since the GT-R is a good car, I want to see is win that title next year for sure,” he concluded, expressing to the fans a strong desire to win back the title.
■ Racing Car Passenger Rides / Circuit Safari
As for the Racing Car Passenger Rides event that is always popular with the fans, the cars that reach the highest speeds for the lucky passengers are the SUPER GT machines. Listening to them after their rides, we hear statements like, “I was blown away by the hard braking coming of a top speed of 300 km/h,” which speak of the thrills they can experience only get here at Fuji Speedway.
The Circuit Safari event is another popular attraction at SUPER GT events, but the one here at the NISMO FESTIVAL is special. That’s because of the commentators on hand. They include a star-studded cast of race-world heroes, including manager Yutaka Suzuki of the No. 23 team, Masahiko Kondo manager of the No. 24 Realize Corporation ADVAN GT-R team, Executive Advisor Satoshi Motoyama and others. In addition to getting close-up views of the racing machines speeding by, the participants are also clearly impressed by the precious insider commentary they get to hear.
■ NISMO GP 2019
The climax of the NISMO FESTIVAL as in years past is the “NISMO GP 2019” that brings together 15 racing cars from the GT500 and GT300 classes and other categories to compete for speed in a 12-lap race. After the Grid Walk attractions, the cars lined up for the race start with the GT500 class cars beginning with car No. 23 in pole position, followed by the No.3 CRAFTSPORTS MOTUL GT-R, the No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R and car No. 24, behind which were the GT300 class cars and finally the Super Taikyu class cars.
The battle for the lead turned into a fierce one, and as the GT500 cars made their required pit stop and driver change, it was there that a special surprise awaited the excited fans in the stands as car No. 3’s driver Kohei Hirate turned the wheel over to Executive Advisor Satoshi Motoyama, who has retired as of last season. While cars No. 3 and No. 24 had pulled ahead of No. 23 at some point in the early going, it was car No. 23 that stretched out its first stint until late in the race and was then able to return to the race in the lead again. With cars No. 3 and 24 chasing about 5 sec. behind, No. 23 took the checkered flag first.
Executive Advisor Satoshi Motoyama made a surprise appearance driving car No. 3 for the first time in a year.
■ Talk Shows / Paddock
Apart from the action on the track, there were plenty of other attractions planned. A specially set up stage in the event area beside the stands was the site for a gorgeous opening by the Race Queens followed by a talk shows featuring the manager and drivers of the KONDO RACING team with inside stories about the 24 Hours Nürburgring they took part in recently, and talks by drivers about the history of Fairlady Z and GT-R cars.
Meanwhile, the paddock was the site for booths by the different companies, where there were special sales of parts and accessories and events with invited drivers, provide plenty to see and do. As for SUPER GT-related talks, there was one by drivers Kazuki Hiramine and Sacha Fenestraz and manager Masahiko Kondo who raced in the GT300 class this year backed by the Nissan Automobile Technical College, and at the CALSONIC booth there was an autograph session with drivers Daiki Sasaki and James Rossiter and manager Kazuyoshi Hosino, and another autograph session by Kohei Hirate and manager Toshikazu Tanaka at the CRAFTSPORTS booth. Another surprise autograph session took place with Hirate and Mitsunori Takaboshi was among the many opportunities for the fans to interact with the drivers.
■ Finale
For the Finale, all of the drivers once again lined up on the home straight.
NISMO’s CEO, Takao Katagiri spoke to the fans, expressing his hopes for next season by saying “At this event last year we pledged to win back the (SUPER GT GT500) title, but we weren’t able to achieve that goal this season. This year’s record of one win, six podium finishes and three pole positions might be better that last season’s record, but it is not where we should be. I want to see us make up for this by working even harder and with greater determination. I ask you all for your continued support!” After these words, the drivers, managers and team personnel all waved to the fans and thanked them for their support throughout 2019.
Japanese
