Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Eighth place a reward after tough day for Nissan at Mount Panorama
february 06, 2017 - Nissan Motorsport

Eighth place a reward after tough day for Nissan at Mount Panorama

  • No.24 #nissan #gtrnismogt3 finishes eighth overall and fourth in class despite setback at Bathurst 12 Hour
  • Frustrating day for No.23 #nissan at Mount Panorama

BATHURST, Australia – It was a day of high emotion and high drama for the #nissan Motorsport team during the 2017 #bathurst12hour at Mount Panorama today.

After a weekend of turbulence for the No.24 #nissan Genuine Oils #gtrnismogt3, drivers Jann Mardenborough, Todd Kelly and Florian Strauss were amongst the front runners for more than half of the race, leading the #event at different times.

The performance came after the car was heavily damaged in an accident in Friday practice and the team worked through the night to repair the car in time for Saturday qualifying.

The team's great work came unstuck when the car became stuck in fourth gear with five hours remaining. It took the crew three laps to rectify the problem, eventually returning to the circuit in 10th place.

The No.24 car demonstrated stunning speed towards the end of the race with former #nissan GT Academy winner Jann Mardenborough at the wheel. The Welshman set the No.24's fastest lap of the race on his penultimate lap – a time of 2:03.309, the third fastest lap of the race.

He also set the fastest first sector of any car in the field on the final lap.

The No.23 GT-R had a frustrating day when a broken floor and transmission issue halted the car's progress in the opening hour. Alex Buncombe started the race and quickly charged into the top 10 before the initial problems struck.

Katsumasa Chiyo was at the wheel in his first stint when the car went back into the garage for repairs. Australian Supercars driver Michael Caruso wasn't able to get any race laps until the car's return to the track with just under five hours remaining.

Despite an extended stay in the pits, the No.23 completed 174 laps and be classified 32nd overall and eighth in class.