DANVILLE, Virginia — The Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 will return to the Pirelli World Challenge Championship in 2017 in the two-driver SprintX events with Always Evolving/Aim Autosport.
Mexican ace and former GT Academy winner Ricardo Sanchez will team up with young American star Frankie Montecalvo for a single-car title assault starting at the first SprintX round, which takes place at Virginia International Raceway on April 29 and 30.
The GT-R NISMO GT3 was a race winner in Pirelli World Challenge competition last year with Bryan Heitkotter, another GT Academy winner, taking a pair of wins at Utah Motorsports Campus.
Sanchez heads to the U.S. championship after spending the past two seasons racing in Europe in the Blancpain GT Series with Nissan.
“After racing for the past two years in Europe, it’s really exciting to get the chance to race the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 in the U.S.,” Sanchez said.
“It’s a completely new chapter for me. I’ve got a whole new set of tracks to learn but the GT-R has been really strong in the U.S. and I’m looking forward to continuing my career in a new country.”
Sanchez has been preparing for his U.S. debut by going back to his racing roots.
“I have been training on most of the tracks in the simulator and I’ve been looking at on-board videos from VIR,” Sanchez said.
“I think the GT-R could be really strong there because of the fast corners and the track is really quick. I really can’t wait. I know the car well and Frankie knows the tracks – I think we’ll make a great combination.”
Montecalvo is no stranger to success in the Pirelli World Challenge Championship. The American driver won the GTA class championship in 2015 with seven victories. His racing resume also includes two assaults on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a full season in the European Le Mans Series in 2013, and runner-up finish at the Dubai 24 Hours.
“I’m very excited to team up with Always Evolving and AIM Autosport in the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 for the Sprint X Series,” Montecalvo said.
“I’ve always been a fan of the GT-R, both as a racecar and the streetcar version, and I’m very, very excited to be working together this year.”
The SprintX Championship began last season with a limited number of races. For 2017, there will be 10 races over the course of five weekends – following a similar format to the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup which Sanchez raced in last season for Nissan in Europe.
Very excited to join @aeperformance in the @NISMO GT-R with @RSanchezGP for the @WCRacing SprintX! https://t.co/RfhLezw4mH #sprintx pic.twitter.com/CUprCJbJIU
— Frankie Montecalvo (@FMontecalvo) April 17, 2017
A post shared by RICARDO SANCHEZ GP (@rsanchezgp) on Apr 15, 2017 at 9:46am PDT
NISMO Calendar
April 22-23
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Monza, Italy
Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
April 29-30
Pirelli World Challenge, Virginia International Raceway, Danville, Virginia
May 3-4
Super GT, Fuji International Speedway, Japan
May 6-7
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA
FIA WEC, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Barbagallo Raceway, Western Australia, Australia
# # #
Contact
Paul Ryan
Marketing and PR Manager
Phone: +1 678 644 0404
Email: paul@nismosupport.com