Nissan joins Grand-Am
Nissan will support teams in both the Grand Sport and Street Tuner classes of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. The auto manufacturer will also participate at four Grand-Am events with its Nissan consumer display.
“Grand-Am welcomes Nissan’s participation in our 2012 OEM partnership program," said Grand-Am President Tom Bledsoe. “Our concerted effort to embrace international manufacturers continues to bear fruit, and we look forward to seeing Nissan increase its involvement in both classes of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge."
Nissan’s Grand-Am history includes three Rolex Series victories, including the SRP II class in the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona in a one-two finish for Team Seattle. Hypersport — today’s Dempsey Racing — also ran an Infiniti-powered Doran Daytona Prototype in two 2005 races.
Nissan has four victories in Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition, winning two races and finishing second in the 2004 manufacturers’ championship standings.
“Nissan is delighted to be a part of an expanding field in Grand-Am racing," said Ron Stukenberg, Nissan’s senior manager of motorsports marketing communications. “Any racing series benefits from diversity and Nissan is happy to add its rich racing tradition to Grand-Am’s growing roster. We anticipate a great season of racing, and we look forward to interacting with racing fans at the Nissan Innovations display and owner car corrals in 2012."