Nissan confirm Dubai 24 Hours line-up

Nissan have confirmed their driver line-up for next week's Dubai 24 Hours, with one car set to be handled exclusively by winners of their ‘GT Academy’ programme.

The marque's new GT3 effort, the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, will compete in the A6 class with the experienced line-up of Michael Krumm, Tom Kimber-Smith, Franck Mailleux and Alex Buncombe handling driving duties.

“2011 was a great year for Nissan and I am very much looking forward to racing the new GT3 car in Dubai,” commented the manufacturer’s works driver Krumm.

“The GT-R took us all the way to the top in 2011 so I hope we can have a good race with the new car. It’s great to celebrate a successful 2011 for Nissan and I’m excited to see how the GT Academy guys get on in the ‘All-Gamer’ car.”

In addition to their race-hardened line-up, Nissan will also field a 370Z with the four winners of their Nissan/PlayStation GT Academy on board. Recent victors Jann Mardenborough and Bryan Heitkotter will join the comparatively experienced Lucas Ordonez and Jordan Tresson in the car.

“It’s a good feeling for me to go back to Dubai as this is where it all really started for me, just three years ago,” said Ordonez. “I know that Jann and Bryan will be very nervous but also very excited to take their GT Academy prize and compete in this race.

"It’s going to be a tough race due to the heat but I am convinced that Jann and Bryan will prove that they are real racing drivers now, just as Jordan and I did last year.”

A third Nissan will compete under the RJN Motorsport banner, with Humaid Al Masaood, Richard Meaden and Tetsuya Tanaka set to drive.

Watch LIVE coverage of the Dubai 24 Hours on Motors TV


James Weeks