Changes both expected and unexpected headlined Nissan and NISMO’s 2023 motorsports activities announcements from Yokohama, headlined by the manufacturer’s ongoing involvement in both classes of the Autobacs SUPER GT Series.
As was previously confirmed, there are no changes to the driver line-ups at any of Nissan’s four GT500 teams. However, the reveals of the liveries for their cars indicate two significant changes.
The Calsonic name and logo, acquired by Marelli in the 2019 merger of Magnetti Marelli and Calsonic Kansei, have disappeared from the #1 Impul Nissan Z GT500 driven by Kazuki Hiramine and Bertrand Baguette.
While the signature blue colour once synonymous with Calsonic will thankfully remain, the Marelli brand steps forward and will be the title sponsor of the “Marelli Impul Z” beginning this year.
This brings an end to Calsonic’s near 40-year presence as a sponsor of domestic and international motorsport, with only a small “formerly Calsonic” sticker affixed on the 2023 car.
NDDP Racing, operated by NISMO, have signed a brand new title sponsor agreement of their own with the manufacturing company that has been known for generations as NGK Spark Plug. But as part of a corporate reorganisation, NGK Spark Plug will change their English language name to Niterra, effective 1 April 2023.
The #3 Niterra Motul Z, as the car is now officially known, will continue to be piloted by Katsumasa Chiyo and Mitsunori Takaboshi.
GT500 all-time wins leader Tsugio Matsuda and four-time GT500 champion Ronnie Quintarelli will begin their tenth season driving for NISMO in the #23 Motul Autech Z, and Kondo Racing have renewed the partnership of Daiki Sasaki and two-time GT500 champion Kohei Hirate in the #24 Realize Corporation Advan Z.
The other significant change occurs within Nissan’s fleet of five Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3s that will compete in GT300.
Teppei Natori will join Kondo Racing and drive with two-time and defending GT300 champion João Paulo de Oliveira aboard the #56 Realize/Nissan Mechanic Challenge GT-R.
The 22-year-old driver finished as runner-up to current F1 star Yuki Tsunoda in the 2018 FIA F4 Japanese Championship, during his time as a member of the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP) academy – then moved up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship for a season.
After returning to Japan, Natori won the 2021 Super Formula Lights championship title and was due to race full-time in Formula 2, before a deal collapsed prior to the start of the season. Originally, Natori planned to take a sabbatical from racing, but he formed an alliance with Nissan and joined Team ZeroOne in the Eneos Super Taikyu Series.
Natori raced full-time in SUPER GT’s second division in 2021 for Team UPGarage, and won his first pole position at Mobility Resort Motegi. He made a one-off return to the series in the 2022 final round at Motegi, driving for Tomei Sports, and was one of four drivers that took part in a GT500 audition for Nissan at Fuji Speedway in December.
Nissan and NISMO have yet to make a statement regarding the status of Kiyoto Fujinami, Natori’s predecessor from the Kondo Racing GT300 crew. Sources have suggested to DSC that Fujinami’s exclusion from the Nissan/NISMO roster have to do with behavioural issues within his KF Motorsport team that competes in the Fuji Speedway Vita Race series, which began to emerge just as Fujinami was testing Kondo Racing’s GT500 Nissan Z.
Elsewhere in Nissan’s GT300 ranks, video game developer Ponos will become the new title sponsor of the #10 Gainer GT-R, to be driven by 2008 GT300 champion Hironobu Yasuda and his sophomore protege Riki Okusa.
Yorikatsu Tsujiko, the CEO of Ponos, has already been appointed as team director for the entry. TanaX will continue as title sponsor of the #11 Gainer TanaX GT-R piloted by Ryuichiro Tomita, Keishi Ishikawa, and Yusuke Shiotsu.
Unofficial customer teams NILZZ Racing and Tomei Sports will also renew their programmes in SUPER GT. NILZZ Racing have yet to announce their drivers for the #48 Shokumou/K’s Frontier GT-R, while Takayuki Aoki, Atsushi Tanaka, and third driver Takuya Otaki will make up the driving crew in the #360 RunUp Rivaux GT-R – shortly after it was announced that Tomei Sports and RunUp Sports will add a second programme in GT World Challenge Asia.
Additional photos © Team ZeroOne, GTA
