Nissan’s all-gamer line-up of Lucas Ordonez, Jann Mardenborough, Wolfgang Reip and Peter Pyzera took a Pro-Am podium in the Spa 24 Hours today when they brought the No.35 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 to the chequered flag in third place in class and seventh place overall.
This result means that the driver’s championship is now a Nissan 1-2-3 with Lucas Ordonez at the top of the table, followed by Peter Pyzera and Alex Buncombe. Nissan GT Academy Team RJN also retains the lead in the teams’ championship.
The 2013 Spa 24 Hours will be remembered as a race of attrition with around 50% of the starters failing to finish the race. The No.32 G-Drive liveried Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 sadly had a dramatic exit during the first hour of the race. Alex Buncombe made one of his trademark starts, moving up from 15th on the grid to eighth place after just two laps. On lap 13 as Alex went into Eau Rouge something broke on the left rear of the car and he was pitched into the tyre barrier at Raidillon. Alex walked away unscathed but the race was over for the No.32 GT-R, which will now be taken back to the UK for investigation.
The No.35 ‘YouTube’ Nissan GT-R ran like clockwork throughout the 24-hour race. A stroke of bad luck during the night put the car three laps behind the leaders, which left the Nismo Athletes with a lot of work to do. A scheduled brake change was completed by the team but when the car returned to the track the safety car came out and that gave other competitors the time to do their brake change during a safety car period.
It has been an emotional week for Lucas Ordonez so it was fitting that the Spaniard was behind the wheel when the No.35 GT-R took the chequered flag.
“This week has been tough emotionally,” he said. “I lost my Uncle Carlos and then the terrible train crash happened in Spain. My Uncle was a big supporter of my racing so he has been on my mind a lot this week and of course I dedicate this podium to him. This is a great result for Nissan, for GT Academy, and for everyone involved in this programme. We took seventh place overall with an all-gamer entry so we have proved again that GT Academy works and I feel very proud. This was a tough race; just look at the results as only 50% of the cars finished. I very much enjoy driving this car, in this team, with Nissan.
Jann Mardenborough has had a very busy weekend at Spa, the highlights being his second place finish in yesterday’s final Formula 3 race and now a podium in the Spa 24 Hours.
“The car ran perfectly today,” said Jann. “The pit stops were great and everyone drove a mature and sensible race so we were able to make steady progress. It’s good to be back in the GT car. I’ll admit now that I was a little anxious before the weekend about switching between F3 and GT but getting in the GT car felt like coming home. I’ll have to work on getting used to sharing my car again though!”
“This is my first big podium and it has happened at Spa so it is an incredible feeling,” said Wolfgang Reip, who was the highest placed Belgian in the race. “It was a very difficult race and I’m sure with better luck we could have won our class buy so many things can happen during a 24 hour race. I’m very proud to have this trophy.”
“It’s a great feeling when you realise that all of your hard work has paid off,” said Peter Pyzera. “After winning GT Academy we join Nissan’s driver development programme and we are pushed very hard to make the most of our abilities. To take this podium finish shows us that we are doing it right.”
“Motor racing is a tough, competitive sport and the fact that almost 50% of the cars didn’t even finish this race is testament to the hard work put in by Nissan GT Academy Team RJN,” said Darren Cox, Nissan’s Director of Global Motorsport. “It’s almost getting monotonous to write good news stories about our GT Academy winners but this one ranks as one of our most rewarding and hard earned results.”
UPDATE: Check out more great pictures from the event, courtesy of Kevin Mc Glone at Red Square Images!
See more articles on Jann Mardenborough, Lucas Ordonez, Peter Pyzera, and Wolfgang Reip.
I still don’t know why the Blancpain Endurance Race organisers were afraid of letting Alex Buncombe to drive with Ordonez & Jann in the same car. They could’ve won the Pro-Am class but I don’t think they were good enough to go for the overall win. What do you guys think?
think that*
Hard work is paying off and their talent is unmistakable. It’s starting to become regular to hear good news from the GT Academy alumni and watching these guys careers develope is fun. Congrats!!
Job well done guys.
Everyone’s going to hate me for this. I already hate myself for it, but here it goes…
I really wish that Youtube livery R35 makes it to GT6. Loos really nice.
Why would anyone hate you for that?
Because of the tons of Skylines and GT-R’s there are in the game already XD
I think the GT community is willing to have GTRs like these and not the midnight purples and M-specs.
Yeah, I really like that Youtube livery as well :)
Is that picture from GT6? It looks like a game to me…
I was just going to post the exact same thing. It looks like a in-game picture, but it obviously isn’t.
There is no way that apex closest to the camera is real!
Inb4 “Forza turns gamers into car lovers, Gran Turismo turns car lovers into racing drivers”
No, that would have been immature. What you did was in very bad taste and you should be kicked in the nuggets. Ok? Have a lovely day.
Luv u 2 <3
For God's sake it's a sarcastic comment on the imbecile fanboys.
Repeat your last two comments in the forum and tell it to a moderator who would like to hear it. Now of all places, don’t post your first comment in here. From the many times that a news article about GT Academy winner competing in a race, I haven’t seen any such comment made like you’re suggesting “sarcastically”.
You understand what “Inb4” means?
YOUTUBE TEAM RACING LIKE A BOSS!
B-E-A-utiful. Congratulations, fellas. You must be inspiring every person who not only has a chance to win GT Academy, but maybe even start racing. I wouldn’t doubt it. You better stay consistent, or oh, I oughta! :D
this is what that Gran Turismo Movie should be based on…those Gt Academy guys are seriously running circle around most of their competition.
Awesome job! Keep those podiums coming!
tears..