Nissan motorsport boss Glyn Hall has said the high-speed character of East London’s Grand Prix Circuit is perfectly suited to his team’s 350Z runners as they approach round five of the local production car championship.
Nissan motorsport boss Glyn Hall has said the high-speed character of East London’s Grand Prix Circuit is perfectly suited to his team’s 350Z runners as they approach round five of the local production car championship.
Drivers Duncan Vos and Gary Formato are both former national champions and have fared well in their first season with the 350Z, in which they have scored one win, six podium positions and four pole positions.
Glyn Hall, Nissan motorsport manager, said: “We’re happy with our progress after the first five race meetings. We’ve only completed around 400 km of actual racing, but development of the car, which is the only official works racing Nissan 350Z outside Japan, is ongoing and we have some way to go before we can think about consistently winning races.
“The high-speed nature of the East London Grand Prix Circuit will suit the 350Z, and Duncan (Vos) and Gary (Formato) will be able to make better use of its power.
“This will offset to an extent the extra weight we are carrying, although the penalty weight will still be a hindrance under braking for the tight corners, particularly at Cocabana at the end of the main straight.”
In only the 350Z’s third race meeting in April, Formato handed the team its first 350Z production car victory at the Phakisa Raceway in the Free State. Nissan Motorsport is positive that East London will see a repeat of April’s performance.
Formato is currently joint third with 87 points in the Class A championship after five rounds, 61 points behind championship leader Anthony Taylor (BMW 330i). Vos is in fifth position with 56 points.