MOTORSPORT: Moffat and Nissan split

The only Nissan V8 Supercar driver to have won in a race in the factory-backed team’s three-year existence is on the move.

James Moffat, the son of touring car legend Allan Moffat, has chosen to exit Nissan at the end of this season after three years driving an Altima V8 for the Kelly brothers-owned team.

That he has elected to leave suggests he has found himself a new home, most likely the seat alongside Scott McLaughlin at the Wilson Security/GRM factory-backed Volvo team.

The news of Moffat’s departure was made by the team via a statement on its Facebook site this morning and quoted team co-owner Todd Kelly only.

"We thank James for his efforts over the past three seasons. Since joining Nissan Motorsport at the start of the 2013 season, James has achieved the best results of his V8 Supercars career. The team and James are both committed to working together to achieve the best possible results at the final four events of this season."

Moffat’s move is the latest in a series of driver and team shake-ups since DJR Team Penske announced its expansion to two cars and confirmed Fabian Coulthard and Scott Pye as its 2016 drivers immediately after Bathurst.

Leading into this weekend’s Gold Coast 600 news has broken that Will Davison had negotiated his way out of Erebus Motorsport midway through a four-year deal and is expected to line up in the Tekno Autosports Holden Commodore VF next year.

Moffat would replace David Wall at Volvo. The Sydney driver has had a disappointing season and runs second-last among the full-time drivers in the championship.

Moffat would present McLaughlin with the strongest challenge he has had from a GRM teammate and has the pace to race the Volvo S60 V8 consistently in the top 10.

Moffat’s replacement at Nissan is expected to be a a driver who can bring a sponsorship package to support his efforts. Current Brad Jones Racing driver Dale Wood is being linked with the seat.

New Zealander Chris Pither is another who has been mentioned as a potential Nissan driver, but the development series star is thought to be more likely to drive for Super Black Racing in 2016. Wall has also been linked with Nissan.

Form Falcon driver David Reynolds is now the biggest name without an assured seat for 2016. His “pussywagon” comments at Bathurst have driven down his appeal, but ironically he could end up driving at Erebus for the category’s only female owner, Betty Klimenko.

Moffat is out of contract at the end of this season and through much of the year both he and Nissan spoke positively of forming a new alliance.

But with his car lacking ongoing backing and Moffat having no substantial personal sponsorship package to bring to the deal, the original plan gradually fell apart.

Moffat can also be a prickly character who can wear his heart on his sleeve. This year his frustration with the performance issues of the Altima have occasionally seeped into the public domain, upsetting the team.

At the Bathurst 1000 his Altima was the only one not to have a significant cylinder-head upgrade, yet he was the only Nissan driver to qualify in the top 10 and with co-driver Taz Douglas finished 10th on Sunday, ahead of all of his teammates. Last year he and Fiore finished second in a classic and bizarre great race.

But he is also running fourth and last among the Nissan drivers in the V8 Supercars drivers’ championship in 18th place, reflecting a difficult overall season.

Moffat scored the Nissan team’s only race win at Winton in 2013, leading home teammate Michael Caruso in a one-two.

Prior to joining the Nissan squad, he was at Dick Johnson Racing for his first two seasons in the championship. His best points finish was 16th in 2014.