RICK Kelly will return to the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour next month to lead Nissan’s defence of its 2015 victory.
Nissan returns with a one-car attack on the event, a brand new GT-R NISMO GT3 to replace the machine that stormed to victory 12 months ago.
The 2006 V8 Supercars championship will join two of the drivers responsible for last year’s triumph, Nissan global athletes Katsumasa Chiyo and 2013 GT Academy Germany winner Florian Strauss returning to the roster of the No. 1 car.
ENTRY LIST: The full entry list for the 2016 Bathurst 12 Hour
SURGERY: Lowndes out of Bathurst 12 Hour after motorbike crash
After dipping out early in 2014 Kelly was unable to compete in the event last year, with V8 Supercars’ season opening test day clashing with the 12 Hour.
“I was so pleased for Nissan to win, but it was tough to watch as opposed to being a part of it,” Kelly said.
“So I’m really happy to be coming back to reunite with the NISMO team, with Chiyo-san, Florian and the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.
“That car is just amazing to drive, especially around Bathurst, where it is unbelievable.”
It will be the third trip to Mount Panorama for Chiyo-san, one of the stars of last year’s event with a charging final stint that cemented the GT-R’s win.
Although he would also help Nissan win the SuperGT GT300 teams’ title and win his class championship in the Blancpain Endurance Series, Chiyo ranks his Bathurst 12 Hour win as the biggest of his career.
“Driving a GT-R to victory at Bathurst was an honour for me and something I will never forget,” he said.
“The race was so exciting and stressful right until the end and then to win was so emotional. That win gave me the confidence that I can race against the best because the competition at this event is extremely strong.
“I am so happy to be coming back to defend last year’s win. We will have an even stronger car this year, but I know that the competition will also improve.”
With last year’s race-winning car now occupying a special place in Nissan’s vast automotive museum, it is a newly-built car — carrying all the latest tweaks and upgrades — that will push to emulate the company’s back-to-back Bathurst 1000 triumphs in 1991 and 1992.
The 2016 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour runs from February 5-7 at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
