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NEWS
MOTORSPORT: Kelly no go for 12 Hour
V8 Supercar decree excludes Rick Kelly from Bathurst 12 Hour attackNew rules obliging lead drivers to participate in a pre-season V8 Supercars test session mean Rick Kelly will definitely miss the Bathurst 12 Hour.
In a statement issued today Nissan Australia "conceded defeat" and abandoned efforts to run Kelly (pictured) as part of factory GT squad to take on the February 6-8 event.
"In recent months Nissan has investigated options that would allow Rick Kelly to participate in both the V8 Super Test and Bathurst 12 Hour in February 2015," Nissan Australia boss Richard Emery's short statement began.
"It is clear that under the current format for both events such an endeavour would compromise both our Bathurst 12 Hour program and our preparations for the 2015 V8 Supercar season. As such we have now informed NISMO that unfortunately Rick will be unable to participate in the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour," he said.
Officially, Nissan said its "ongoing" discussions with V8 Supercars via boss James Warburton had been "robust". Insiders at the company's Dandenong (Vic) headquarters suggest the brand is extremely disappointed with the outcome.
The NISMO GT-R Kelly would have driven is one of the favourites for the event, which for 2015 has attracted a high calibre of entries including three factory Bentleys and factory-supported entries from the likes of Audi and Mercedes-AMG.
The factory GT-R will now likely be manned by an international squad, Nissan says.
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