MOTORSPORT: Nissan extends V8 deal

Days after naming rights sponsor Norton announced it was not renewing its current deal, Nissan has boosted its V8 Supercars team by confirming a one-year contract extension to the end of 2016 to run four cars in the championship.

And while that sounds unimpressive, it is almost certain to act as the precursor to a new extended deal for the Kelly family-owned Nissan Motorsport.

The one-year extension, announced at the start of the Sandown 500 in Melbourne this morning, brings Nissan's commitment into line with technical category regulations that are expected to come into force from 2017, which could include a shift away from V8 engines and the adoption of two-door coupe body style alongside or in place of the current sedans.

The V8 Supercars board is mulling over the various options which are contained in a white paper prepared by CEO James Warburton.

“From our perspective it was important to make sure that our position was clear through to the end of 2016 so that we can then work with the sport and our partners in relation to what happens with the white paper and where we might sit in that,” Nissan CEO Richard Emery told a media briefing at Sandown today.

“As Nissan we are committed to the sport and for that reason we are making sure we align our actions and commitments with those of the sport. We will be reading with keen interest the white paper and where that puts us for 2017 and beyond.”

Emery says the company is more than likely to stay in V8 Supercars racing beyond 2016.

“Our intention is to stay in motorsport in Australia and if you are going to be in motorsport in Australia for all the right reasons – professionalism, technology, all the things that add to why you are doing it –I can't see that V8 Supercars is going to lose that status by changing whatever they do,” he said.

“More likely than not, irrespective of what changes they make, we would be likely to continue.”

Nissan backs Nissan Motorsport to run four Altimas in the V8 Supercars Championship, two run under the Jack Daniel's banner for team co-owners Todd and Rick Kelly and two in Norton colours for James Moffat and Michael Caruso.

Nissan and the Kellys joined forced with the launch of the New Generation V8 Supercars technical regs in 2013. The team has won one race but struggled with both aerodynamic and engine power issues.

The announcement of the extension comes only days after Norton announced the end of its association with Nissan Motorsport and Australian racing. However, the team is confident of finding fresh funding.

Emery said Nissan had expressed its view to V8 Supercars about potential future directions of the category.

“I have put my nose in a little bit to state our position on a few things, in case there is an assumption from V8 Supercars that ‘if we do this then Nissan will do that,' just to make sure where we stood on a few things.

“Once we see the detail we will see how it impacts us or how it might affect our program.”

As Emery has told motoring.com.au previously, a switch to coupes would not mean the iconic GT-R would enter V8 Supercars racing, as that car was globally linked with the GT3 category.

He was less definitive on potential engine choices for the category such as hybrid propulsion or V6 engines.

“Right now I don't think I have a preference because we will have spent lots of money and three years by the time we come to throw those engines in the bin … I am not specifically concerned about a change.”

Emery said he was “absolutely” confident Nissan Motorsport would find the funding to sustain its four car attack and confirmed behind the scenes assistance was being provided to the team in that search.

“We are not knocking on doors on their behalf, more we are providing a real background of two years of solid support from the factory… we are providing confidence to any commercial sponsor or partner.”

In other V8 Supercars news, organisers today announced the 14-round championship calendar for 2015, which commences with the Clipsal 500 Adelaide on March 1.

Before then, however, 2015 proceedings will open with the V8 SuperTest at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 7-8, which clashes with the Bathurst 12-Hour that Nissan is also involved in.

V8 Supercars has also made minor modifications to formats which include two signature events returning to their customary race distance. The Castrol Townsville 400 returns to its original 200km race format each day, while the Clipsal 500 and Sydney 500 at Sydney Olympic Park retain the 2x125km Saturday format, as daytime races.

The ITM 500 Auckland has returned to its traditional November date as a SuperSprint event – one of eight such events that include two SuperSprint races on Saturday and the 200km Sunday race that featured this year.

2015 V8 Supercars calendar:

February 7-8
Sydney.com V8 Super Test
Sydney Motorsport Park
Super Test

February 26-Mar 1
Clipsal 500 Adelaide
Adelaide Street Circuit
Super Street

March 12-15
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
Albert Park
International (non-championship)

March 27-29
Tyrepower Tasmania Super Sprint
Symmons Plains Raceway
Super Sprint

April 17-19
Perth Super Sprint
Barbagallo Raceway
Super Sprint

May 15-17
Winton Super Sprint
Winton Motor Raceway
Super Sprint

June 19-21
Skycity Triple Crown Darwin
Hidden Valley Raceway
Super Sprint

July 10-12
Castrol Townsville 400
Reid Park
Super Street

July 31-Aug 2
Coates Hire Ipswich Super Sprint
Queensland Raceway
Super Sprint

August 21-23
Sydney Motorsport Park Super Sprint
Sydney Motorsport Park
Super Sprint

September 11-13
Wilson Security Sandown 500
Sandown Raceway
Pirtek Enduro Cup

October 8-11
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000
Mount Panorama
Pirtek Enduro Cup

October 23-25
Castrol Edge Gold Coast 600
Surfers Paradise
Pirtek Enduro Cup

November 6-8
ITM 500 Auckland
Pukekohe Park Raceway
Super Sprint

November 20-22
Phillip Island Super Sprint
Phillip Island Circuit
Super Sprint

December 4-6
Sydney 500
Sydney Olympic Park
Super Street