GT SPORT Motul Team RJN is ready to push the 2018-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 through its first 24-hour race this weekend at the fabled Spa 24 Hour in Belgium.
The newly evolved GT-R has already shown pace in 2018 with wins in both Super GT and the Blancpain GT Series Asia, plus a top five finish at Circuit Paul Ricard in the Blancpain GT Series. The No. 23 GT-R also impressed at the Spa 24 Hour test, recording the third fastest time of the day.
The Spa 24 Hour is renowned as the toughest test of man and machine on the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup calendar. GT Sport Motul Team RJN will field two cars at the event with Alex Buncombe teamed with Lucas Ordóñez and Matt Parry driving the No. 23 entry and Ricardo Sanchez driving with Struan Moore and Jordan Witt in the No. 22 car. Sean Walkinshaw also rejoins the RJN Nissan team for Spa in the No. 22 entry; the British driver previously raced with the team in 2016.
“We’re off the back of a successful Paul Ricard 1000km where we got P5, and at the Spa test we were third overall,” said Buncombe. “The car is strong. However, this race doesn’t get any easier. The teams and the drivers are improving every year so it’s just getting harder and harder. To get a good result at this race, you need to be quick, but you also need a little bit of luck on your side. We’re hoping for that this weekend.”
Last year, Nissan put the No. 23 GT-R into the top 10 in qualifying thanks to a stout performance by Ordóñez.
“Spa 24 is the highlight of the year, the most important race of the year for us at GT Sport Motul Team RJN,” said Ordóñez. “We go with high expectations for the 2018 GT-R NISMO GT3, but it’s also the hardest race of the year. Twenty-four hours is never easy, but Spa is especially challenging. We’re going with the new machine, which we’ve shown can have a really strong pace during the race. We just have to focus on qualifying attack. Hopefully, we can do as good as last year where I qualified in the top 10.”
