Press Release                  13th January 2010

RJN MOTORSPORT DEVELOP GT4 VERSION OF NISSAN 370Z FOR 2010 SEASON


RJN Motorsport have developed the Nissan 370Z Version NISMO race car which will be available for the 2010 season onwards. 

This exciting version of the 370Z is fitted with a VQ38 HR engine and a 6 speed manual transmission.  The GT4 car having been developed by RJN with the technical support of NISMO.
"RJN are extremely excited about the development of this Nissan 370Z GT4 car.  The car will be built by us to order for customers that wish to be competative in the growing GT4 category.  We feel this appointment is perfect timing for us to build another race winning Nissan following on from the success of our 350Z in GT4".  Bob Neville - Team Owner RJN Motorsport.
RJN completed a very successful season in GT4, winning the Teams Championship and 2nd in the Drivers Championship with Alex Buncombe and Lucas Ordonez.  Ordonez is the first virtual to real life racing driver and first winner of the Nissan Playstation GT Academy 2008.
With plans to compete in the 2010 European GT4 Cup, RJN will also support other teams that are competing with the 370Z throughout Europe with parts and technical expertise.
The car will be on display at the Autosport International Show at the NEC, Birmingham on Nissan Stand no.4001.


GT Academy 2010

GT Academy 2010 will go live on 17 December, 2009 and will use the virtual world of the new PlayStation® Gran Turismo®5 game to find a real-world racing driver. The stakes are high, with an intensive race training programme and a season-long drive in a full race-spec Nissan 370Z in the European GT4 Cup as the ultimate prize.

The competition falls into four main stages:

Stage One – will offer Gran Turismo fans a sneak preview of the hotly-anticipated Gran Turismo 5 game, due for release during 2010. Competitors will record flying laps on a time trial-based track available via PlayStation®Network, accessed through PS3. Unlike the first GT Academy, participants will not have to enter the competition using the GT5 PrologueTM game itself, and so even more hopeful racing drivers are expected to take part.

Stage Two – the holders of the twenty fastest online lap times from each participating country will qualify for their national final event. Tensions will run high as they battle each other on another exclusive Gran Turismo 5 level for the chance to move to the next phase of the competition.

Stage Three – twenty finalists, chosen from each of the national finals events, will head to the world famous Silverstone circuit for the GT Academy itself – a five-day, comprehensive race driver ‘boot camp’. They will have a chance to develop new driving skills in an array of Nissan, and other, hardware, while also being judged on fitness and mental attitude.

Stage Four – For the two competitors that display the talent, fitness, aptitude, drive and determination to succeed in motor sport, the action will hot-up even further. A UK-based intensive driving and racing programme will prepare them to qualify for an international racing license.

Stage Five – There is only one place available for the driver with the most potential to compete on an international stage. The overall GT Academy 2010 champion will race a full season in the European GT4 Cup in a Nissan 370Z prepared by RJN Motorsport. The opening race is currently scheduled for May, 2010.

The GT Academy competition is open to participants from the following territories: Austria; Belgium; France; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Netherlands; Portugal; Spain; Switzerland; UK; and Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Also joining in will be Australia and New Zealand to make it a truly international promotion. This year’s rules stipulate that anyone who holds, or has held, a national or international race license will not qualify for GT Academy. This rule is aimed at maintaining the purity of the “virtual to real” concept.

Links for further information:-
http://eu.gran-turismo.com
http://www.facebook.com/GTAcademy

See below for more on Lucas' progress in GT4 Championship 2009 and then get racing, maybe it will be you we are measuring for the seat in our Nissan 370Z Nismo Version GT4 car.


RJN Motorsport win teams title GT4 European Cup 2009

Algarve GT4 European Cup Rounds 11 and 12.



On Sunday 13th September Lucas Ordoñez and Alex Buncombe took a race victory in the last race of the season to secure second place in the European GT4 Cup championship. The victory also sealed the team title for GT Academy partners RJN Motorsport. The result was a clear demonstration of PlayStation and Nissan’s belief that true racing talent could be unearthed from among PlayStation’s legion of Gran Turismo® game fans.

Some strong results throughout the season, including three second places and a win, saw Ordoñez and Buncombe take their RJN Motorsport Nissan 350Z into the final round of the season six points adrift of series leader Joe Osborne. Their high hopes of overturning the deficit were dealt a blow by some dreadful luck. Despite their track time on Portugal’s stunning new Algarve circuit being severely limited by an engine change, Buncombe still managed to qualify on pole for race one. But luck went against the GT Academy team again and an electrical failure forced their retirement before the start. Second for Osborne was enough to secure the title with race two still to go.

Starting the second race from fifth on the grid, Ordoñez shot through to second by the first corner. Spectacular drives from both team-mates saw them take the win and head the tight fight for the second championship place.

Zolder Rounds 9 and 10 22nd August '09 GT4 European Cup
Lucas Ordonez and Alex Buncombe took their first win of the season in spectacular style today.  Lucas has risen from the winner of Nissan Playstation GT Academy last year with his prize of driving in the 24 hours of Dubai. He was then given the opportunity of joining ALEX Buncombe in GT4 and has proved to have an excellent racing instinct, improving at each race he has now stood with Alex on the top of the podium. www.gt4cup.com


















Saturday 24^th July Race 2

Congratulations to Lucas Ordonez and Alex Buncombe for a well earned 2nd place - they are now 2nd in the championship with two rounds to come in Zolder and Algarve. 

Watch the action - Video of Spa Event   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-evlOlOLY4 













RJN Motorsport Nissan 350Z Chassis 01
Most successful RJN Race Car
The racing Nissan 350Z RJN Chassis 01 has added to its impressive list of achievements after the Goodwood Festival of Speed.  Driven by a host of talented drivers including Johnny Herbert, Alex Buncombe, Rob Barff, Chris Buncombe, Neil Cunningham, Ben Collins, Carl Rosenblad, Carlos Tavares, Vincent Radermecker, Anthony Reid, Kurt Thiim, Holger Eckhardt, Richard Meaden and the GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez and competed in:-
24 hours of Spa Francochamps
24 hours of Nurburgring - finish 
Nurburgring VLN 6 hour finishing 3rd in class SP6
24 Hours of Dubai 2008 finishing 21st overall and 3rd in class
GT4 European Cup since 2008 12 podiums including 6 wins
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 achieving a 7th overall and 3rd in class with an impressive 52.06 on the prestigious hill climb event
Bob Neville said "Chassis 01 has a special place in our Nissan Team which has been racing and rallying for more than 10 years but with 370Z arriving I suppose we must part with it soon".


GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 3/4/5/ July
RJN Nissan 350Z reunited with Johnny Herbert.
RJN Motorsport will be taking the Playstation Nissan GT Academy 350Z that raced in Dubai to Goodwood this weekend where it will contest the famous hill climb event beginning on Friday for the practice runs driven once again by Johnny Herbert.  Alex Buncombe will then drive on Saturday and Sunday.  GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez will be driving a Nissan 370Z up the hill on Friday.














Long Way Down Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol, one of two vehicles, prepared by RJN for the 2007 television series Long Way Down starring Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman has returned to the RJN workshop for a service and some minor repairs.  The Patrol is in great shape and it was very exciting to see it again.  One thing on the work sheet was a thorough clean so finally the African sand was washed away, although a pair of extremely dusty pants reputedly once belonging to Ewan are still cushioning a spare motorcycle tyre that is attached to the rear spare wheel.
















GT4 European Cup - Oschersleben
2 second places for Playstation winner Lucas
The second race on a dry and warm Sunday afternoon proved to be equally as eventful at race 1. The No 14 RJN Nissan started fifth on the grid, Alex Buncombe quickly gained places and soon joined in the fight for second with the two BMWs, under intense pressure Pierre Brice Mena spun and was passed by Buncombe for second place and Veltman third. The gap between first and second was over ten seconds, but Buncombe started to do what he does best, closing the gap on Martin. Once the pitstops were over, Ludovic Sougnez (55) was leading the pack, closely followed by Lucas Ordoñez (14), KevinVeltman and Pierre Brice Mena. Veltman in a BMW M3 has a stop and go penalty and Lucas not only retained his 2nd place to the line, he caught the leading Porsche deciding not to battle for the lead on the last laps of the race but was very happy to cross the line in 2nd place.






After an eventful first race the team are celibrating 2nd place.  The rain came down while the cars were on the grid and the decision to change to wets proved to be critical to the outcome.  Lucas started in pouring rain and was in 4th when he left the track and lost a few places, but he kept his head and regained 4th place for the pit stop.  Alex Buncombe took over the car with 20 seconds between him and 3rd place Michael Mallock.  With amazing skill he gained 2 seconds a lap and passed Michael on the last lap for 3rd place.  The BMW M3  finished second, but was later given a drive-through penalty for driving at an abnormally slow speed after the mandatory pit stop.  Converted into a 30-second time penalty, this dropped him down to fifth and the RJN Nissan 350Z moved up to 2nd.




Nurburgring 24 Hours 2009

The RJN Nissan 370Z VLN specification  racecar began the 24 hour race from 42nd on a grid of over 200 cars and in the perfect position to reach the targeted finishing position of top 3 in class and in top 40th overall.  The car ran with clockwork precision for the first 11 hours and whilst running 32nd overall and 2nd in SP6 class, in the dark whilst overtaking, the Nissan was hit behind the driver door and sent spinning into the barriers.  Alex Buncombe managed to limp his way back to the garage on 3 wheels.  The team repaired the car and sent it out but by now at the back of the field.  The car now developed a few problems probably as a result of the huge impact it had suffered and did not recover position, but finished the race 6th in class.  Bob Neville said " not the result we were hoping for but really the car should have been retired after the accident, all praise to the team for repairing it and getting to the finish".
To see coverage of the Nissan 370Z at the Nurburgring go to:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMSVMt9Y0kA
and
http://www.nissan-motorsports.com/ENN/PRESS/2009/090529.html

May 16th Adria GT4 European Cup
The weather was lovely in Adria for the 3rd and 4th races of the series.  The RJN Nissan 350Z was fastest in the first free practice with Alex Buncombe at the wheel and qualified 3rd, Lucas Ordonez qualified 8th on the grid to start the first race.
The results of the first race did not reflect the steady and mature driving of Lucas but the team were pleased with a 6th place and some points.
Race two had a very diffierent result.  This race had many casualties, with only half the grid making it to the end. The nr5 Ginetta of Tom Dunstan, the nr23 Nissan 350z of Palmer and Pearson, and Buncombe and Ordoñez's nr14 Nissan 350Z were all taken out in the first lap.  Visit www.gt4cup.com for more information on the races.  Next race Oschersleben on 20/21st June.

May 2/3 Silverstone GT4 European Cup
Watch the action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxn4zJx4HCA
Race 1 saw the Nissan move up the field from 11th on the grid to finish 6th overall just beaten on the finish line after chasing the Aston Martin of Vladimir HLADIK.
Race 2 Buncombe started in 4th position, but it was nothing but an open track ahead of the 350Z by the end of the first lap. Alex pulled away from the field by a few seconds after a safety car appearance, bringing the car into the pit stop as leader.  Cue Ordoñez, who exited the pit lane into 2nd place and proceeded to fight it out for 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. In the end, the up-and-comer forced his way through to maintain 3rd position, winning the bottom step on the podium for the day.

Lucas said: “I was really pushing hard on the last corners, trying to overtake the BMW. I could tell that he was losing grip on his rear tyres and I managed to overtake him on the last corner.

“I’m really happy that we came third in my first race weekend in GT4, it’s great for me. We’ll try to continue to improve in Italy in two weeks time. Alex showed that the Nissan can lead races and I need to help convert those chances.”

Team boss of Nissan Playstation, Bob Neville added: “Last year the Nissan Z and Alex Buncombe won more races in European GT4 than anyone


GT4 Update: Lucas qualifyed 11th and Alex 4th overall.  According to the rules both drivers will take the start in one of the two races.

1st May 2009
RJN Motorsport will be racing their new Nissan 370Z VLN SP6 spec race car at the Nurburgring on 2nd May.  Driving the car in the 4 hour endurance race will be experienced Nordschleife journalist driver Holger Eckhardt and German TV presenter and journalist Matthais Malmedie.  The race is in preparation for the 24H Nurburgring 21st to 24th May.


















1st May 2009
Lucas Ordoñez, winner of the Nissan/PlayStation® GT Academy 2008 has been offered the chance to race alongside experienced partner Alex Buncombe in the upcoming GT4 European Championship.  The first races are at Silverstone on 2nd and 3rd of May and this will be Lucas’ first opportunity following GT Academy to prove himself behind the wheel of a racing car.  Lucas has already completed a practice session in the GT4 Nissan 350Z



RJN Team were at the Balance of Performance test for the SRO GT4 Championship held at Paul Ricard Circuit.  Team Boss Bob Neville said "With more teams entering the series 2009 will be even more competitive, but we are confident that the 350Z will be amongst the front runners".











GT Academy and Dubai 24 hours 2009 TV and links
GT Academy will be televised on Dave TV beginning on Saturday April 4th at 7pm.
Link to Nissan worldwide for report on the 24 hours of Dubai http://www.nissan-motorsports.com/ENN/RACE/2009/europe.html and http://www.nissan-motorsports.com/ENN/ENJOY/TABI2009/index.html

Dubai 24 hours 2009 - The ultimate prize - Playstation Nissan GT Academy

RJN Motorsport’s two racing Nissan 350Z’s sailed serenely into Jebel Ali port in Dubai ready for the 24 hours of Dubai, but a storm was shortly to break in garage 8a at the Dubai Autodrome.

Practice, qualifying and warm up went without problems, all the drivers feeling comfortable in the cars, car number 23 with a driver line up of Ex F1 driver Johnny Herbert, Playstation Nissan GT  Academy winner Lucas Ordonez, Alex Buncombe and GT Academy host Rob Barff achieved  a qualifying position of 22^nd on the grid of 82 entries and 2^nd in class A5 and number 53 with Carlos Tavares, Chris Buncombe, Alex Buncombe and Drivers Republic journalist Richard Meaden at the wheel were 30^th  and 4^th in class.

The race started and for the first 40 minutes was without incident for the RJN cars, then as one person described the situation the cars were doing the hoki coki, as a run of minor clashes with other cars on track and punctures brought both cars in and out of the pits.  The cars when on track were both running well, climbing rapidly through the field, only to suffer a set back and have it all to do again.

At just after the half way stage, car number  53 spun on oil or water on the track and crashed with enough damage to end its race.  Driver Carlos Tavares was thankfully unhurt.  With an hour to go to the finish the Playstation Nissan GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez took the wheel and continued to drive the car as he had in his three previous stints, putting in consistantly fast laps and driving with confidence and skill, the car crossed the finishing line in 45^th place and 8^th in class.

Lars Schloemer also a Playstation Nissan GT Academy winner did not drive in the race as due to illness he had missed some vital aspects of his driver training programme.  However, he played an important supporting role at Dubai, and worked as part of the team on the pit wall.

RJN Motorsport are happy to have supported Playstation and Nissan in the GT Academy project and to have participated in the successful transition of two Playstation 3 game winners with no racing experience into the holders of International racing licences and one winner to have successfully competed in the 24 hours of Dubai.  Congratulations to all concerned but especially Lars Schloemer and Lucas Ordonez.

Watch our racing 350Z in action visit www.nissan-350z.co.uk


RJN MOTORSPORT are the UK and Europe's principle tuning specialist for the Nissan 350Z Parts include: bolt in roll cage, AP brake kit, Close ratio gear kit, Bilstein dampers, Helix clutches, many more. Call or email for details.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE STAR CHART GUIDE TO CONVERTING YOUR CAR - CLICK ON PRODUCTS THEN SELECT - RACE AND TRACK DAY PREP.  CONTACT US FOR FURTHER ADVICE AND COSTINGS  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or 01235 868000