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Jack Daniel's Racing brings Nissan back to Bathurst

The Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altima’s will take to the Bathurst circuit for the first time on Thursday for practice for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Todd Kelly, Rick Kelly, David Russell and Karl Reindler

Todd Kelly, Rick Kelly, David Russell and Karl Reindler

Edge Photographics

Nissan is back on Mount Panorma, Bathurst for the first time since 1992 for this weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, and fans can expect plenty of fireworks from the Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altimas.

Nissan Motorsport team owners and drivers Todd and Rick Kelly, along with co-drivers David Russell and Karl Reindler, today arrived in Bathurst following their traditional road trip from Melbourne, driving an old Nissan G60 Patrol and new Patrol V8.

Todd Kelly, Rick Kelly, David Russell and Karl Reindler
Todd Kelly, Rick Kelly, David Russell and Karl Reindler

Photo by: Edge Photographics

The brothers will compete in the Bathurst 1000 in the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar and will look to build on a strong season so far, where the team took its first victory at Winton Motor Raceway in August.

The Nissans haven’t been the quickest cars in a straight line so far this season, but superior handling will see them make up lost ground on the most daunting section of the track, across the top of the mountain. Jim Richards and Mark Skaife won for Nissan last time out at Bathurst taking victory in the now infamous 1992 race with the legendary Nissan ‘Godzilla’ Skyline.

- The 2013 V8 Supercars season of endurance consists of three events, the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600, and for the first time drivers will race for the Pirtek Endurance Cup awarded to the driver pairing with the most championship points across all three races.

- After the Sandown 500 Rick Kelly sits 13th in the series standings, while Todd Kelly is 25th following a strong showing in the traditional pre-Bathurst event.

- The Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altima’s will take to the Bathurst circuit for the first time on Thursday for practice for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altima (Championship position: 25th): “Bringing Nissan back to Bathurst is huge, it’s almost the same as when we turned up at Clipsal for the first race of Nissan being back in V8 Supercars after 20 years and in some ways it’s probably a bigger deal that Nissan is back at Bathurst,” Todd Kelly said.

“It’s going to be a big weekend for us here and I just can’t wait to get these things out on to the track and see exactly what they can do.

“If we get the car tuned well, we should be extremely strong through the top of the mountain based off all the races we have done so far with the Altima.

“We’re generally very good in the corners when we get the car set up right, so hopefully we can do that. I think we really need to nail that part of it so that we’ve got lots of speed over the top, which will make us less vulnerable down the straight.

“Potentially we will lack a bit of straight line speed, and we still don’t know until we get a few laps under our belt what our fuel economy will be. All in all, I just can’t wait to get in the car and see how it goes around this place.”

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altima - (Championship position: 13th): “I tell you what, the Bathurst 1000 has come around quickly, it’s been a busy year for us in the first year of Nissan Motorsport and Bathurst is a big one,” Rick Kelly said.

“We’ve been looking forward to coming here in a Nissan since we debuted the program and the way our car handles mid-high speed, it’s going to be an exceptional car across the top of the mountain.

“Now that we’re here and looking at the mountain in the background, we can’t wait to jump in the car and see what it feels like around the track.”

DAVID RUSSELL - #7 Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altima: “I can’t wait to get on the track; it seems like too long ago that we were at Sandown. I was revved up after Sandown, so I can wait to hit the track,” David Russell said.

“It’s my favourite track, my favourite time of year and it’s going to be a great experience, not only to be back with Todd Kelly, but also to be part of a factory outfit with Nissan Motorsport.”

KARL REINDLER - #15 Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altima: “It’s fantastic to be here back at Bathurst, the track is looking amazing and the atmosphere already this early in the week is pretty special as you would expect,” Karl Reindler said

“I’m pumped to be back and just really looking forward to teaming up with Rick Kelly and seeing what we can do in the big race on Sunday.”

Jack Daniel's Racing

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