Nissan GT-R to act as safety car for SuperGT series

The season opener for Japan's SuperGT series is a little over a day away, and the organizers have finally deemed one vehicle worthy to lead the GT300 and GT500 racecars around the track. A new Nissan GT-R, swathed in white and sporting the required safety stickers and light bar, will make its way around Suzuka this Sunday, March 16th, which also marks the return of the GT-R to the series after a three-year hiatus.

To celebrate, Nissan will be bringing out a half dozen GT-R racecars that the automaker has campaigned over the last 18 years, including the 2003 XANAVI NISMO GT-R, 1996 NISMO GT-R LM Clarion and the 1990 Calsonic Skyline, all of which will be making demo-runs during the morning of the 16th. Nissan will also have the 2003 MOTUL PITWORK GT-R, 1998 Pennzoil NISMO GT-R and the 1992 STP Taisan GT-R on display for spectators to gawk at before the festivities commence.

Nissan's full press release is after the jump and we'd be remiss not to point out that three of the newly minted GT500 GT-Rs are already in the top five during the practice sessions held earlier today. We'll be following their progress through our friends in Japan as the weekend unfolds.

[Source: Nissan]

PRESS RELEASE

NISSAN GT-R IS OFFICIAL SAFETY CAR FOR SUPER GT 2008 SERIES

TOKYO (March 14, 2008) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (NISMO) today announced that the NISSAN GT-R will become the official safety car of the SUPER GT 2008 series, which kicks off this March 16.

A handover of the safety car will be held during the opening of the SUPER GT series (Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture) on Sunday, March 16.

A series of past GT-R racing models will feature in demo-runs in the morning. A line-up of the past GT-R racing cars will also be on display at the Grand Prix Square adjacent to the main stand.

[Program]
Sunday, March 16
10:20 – 10:35 Safety car and past GT-R demo-runs(at Suzuka Circuit)
* Key presentation ceremony
(to be presented from Advertising Department General Manager of Nissan, to Masaaki Bando, Chairman of GT Association)
* Photo opportunities for the media (safety car, past GT-R racing cars)
* Safety car and past GT-R demo-runs

12:55 – 13:05 Presentation ceremony (in SUPER GT Opening Ceremony)
* Key presentation ceremony
(to be presented from Takao Katagiri CVP of Nissan, to Masaaki Bando, Chairman of GT Association)

[Vehicles for demo-runs]
2003 XANAVI NISMO GT-R
1996 NISMO GT-R LM Clarion
1990 Calsonic Skyline

[Vehicles on display]
2003 MOTUL PITWORK GT-R
1998 Pennzoil Nismo GT-R
1992 STP Taisan GT-R