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Nissan open to Gen2 Supercars switch

Nissan’s future in Supercars could see it stray from the current V8 engine package, according to the carmaker’s Australian boss Richard Emery.

Nissan Motorsports paddock area and logo / signage

Nissan Motorsports paddock area and logo / signage

Eric Gilbert

Rick Kelly, Nissan Motorsports
Todd Kelly, Nissan Motorsports
Michael Caruso, Dean Fiore, Nissan Motorsport
Todd Kelly, Nissan Motorsports
Michael Caruso, Nissan Motorsports
Rick Kelly, Nissan Motorsports

It was announced today that Nissan will continue as a full-blown Supercars manufacturer for at least the next two years, with an extension of its arrangement with Kelly Racing.

For the short term, at least, the technical make-up of Nissan’s Supercars programme will remain stable, with V8-powered Altimas on the grid for 2017 and 2018.

But that doesn’t mean Nissan won’t switch to the upcoming Gen2 regulations in the future. Part of an extension beyond 2018 could well mean switching to a turbo engine, something that will be assessed over the course of the new deal.

“At this point in time, our intention is to go forward for the next two years with the package that we’ve got,” said Emery.

“Having said that, we’ve agreed to undertake the process with [Nissan] Global, starting quite soon, to develop what an alternate package would look like under Gen2 rules for 2019 onwards.

“At this point in time, that’s the timeline we’re working towards. We’ve got the package we think is thereabouts for the next two years, and what would be a better package, and does it exist within the Nissan world.

“So we’ll work with Global on that. We’re encouraged by their wishing to be involved in developing that package. At this point in time I can’t see, without going into much detail, that we’d be ready for 2018. So I’d expect it’s 2019 unless something drastically changed next year.”

The Gen2 regulations, which allow non-V8 power plants and two-door body styles, are set to come into effect next season. However, it is highly unlikely that any Gen2-spec cars will join the series until, at the very least, 2018.

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