Nissan, Nismo announce motorsport programs for 2022

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and its motorsports division, Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (Nismo), recently announced an outline of their planned motorsports activities for 2022. The Yokohama-based car brand shared three key activities this year which include the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Super GT GT500 class, and its customer racing program.

In 2022, Nissan looks to bring the excitement and fun of zero-emission electric vehicles to a global audience by participating in the eighth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

This year’s race season shapes up to be more exciting than ever with shorter free practice sessions, a new qualifying format featuring head-to-head runs, as well as new challenges for teams and drivers. Aside from the new Formula E regulations, this year will also see Gen2 cars which are expected to unleash more performance than ever.

Driving for the team are veteran Sébastien Buemi and rising star Maximilian Günther.

Nissan aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.

The Japanese automotive company also said that they will be participating in this year’s Super GT GT500 race. Nissan and Nismo are developing the Nissan Z GT500 based on the Nissan Z and will be used by four teams.

NDDP Racing, headed by Team Principal Jiro Shimada will be competing with the number 3 Craftsports Motul Z with Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi sitting behind the wheel. Team Impul, on the other hand, will be led by Team Principal Kazuyoshi Hoshino with the number 12 Calsonic Impul Z to be driven by Kazuki Hiramine and Bertrand Baguette. Masahiko Kondo will lead Kondo Racing using the number 24 Realize Corporation Advan Z with race drivers Daiki Sasaki and Kohei Hirate.

Meanwhile, Nismo will compete using the number 23 Motul Autech Z to be driven by Daiki Sasaki and Kohei Hirate to be helmed by Team Principal Takeshi Nakajima.

Motohiro Matsumura, COO of Nismo, will continue to serve as the executive director of the abovementioned teams. Michael Krumm will support the teams and drivers as executive advisor.

For Nissan’s customer racing program, the brand will compete at the upcoming Super GT GT300 Class using six Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3s. Two of which will come from Gainer who will enter the number 10 Tanax Gainer GT-R and number 11 Gainer Tanax GT-R led by Team Principal Kazumi Fujii.

Kondo Racing will also have its GT-R entry in the number 56 Realize Nissan Mechanic Challenge GT-R.

Customer teams Nilzz Racing, Runup, and Busou Drago Corse will also be competing in the GT-R.

Nissan will also be a part of this year’s Super Taikyu Series with MP Racing, Helm Motorsports, and GTNET Motor Sports all competing with one Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. Nismo will be providing technical support for the teams this year.

In addition, Okabe Jidosha motorsport and FKS Team Fukushima are scheduled to compete in the ST-3 class each with a Fairlady Z Nismo RC.

Nissan also announced other racing activities in 2022 such as the Nismo Driving Academy and the Nismo Festival.

“In our pursuit of excitement, we have always challenged the limits of what is possible, daring to do what others don’t and creating a legacy of speed. Motorsport is the expression of this passion and unrivaled expertise. With Nissan’s commitment to the legacy of speed and excitement, driven by our passion to create better, safer, and faster cars, we accelerate to race ahead both with Super GT and Formula E with the goal of moving your hearts, and creating history,” said Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta.

Photos from Nissan

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