Ford may be back but Nissan is out.
Nissan has announced its withdrawal from the Virgin Australian Supercars Championship.
The news came via Nissan Australia boss, Stephen Lester from the company’s Dandenong headquarters just moments ago.
Lester confirmed the company’s local on-track efforts would conclude at the end of this season.
“Nissan has decided to exit the Supercars Championship in order to concentrate on the interests and needs of our current and future customers,” Lester said.
Nissan Australia entered local Supercars competition in 2013. At that time the Japanese brand joined forces with the existing Commodore-campaigning operation of Todd and Rick Kelly.
Many pundits believed Nissan Australia would exit the series when the initial four-year term expired but Nissan announced an extension of two years in 2016.
“We have obviously been talking to the Kellys for some time and making the announcement now suits both parties,” Lester stated.
“I’d like to thank Todd and Rick Kelly, Michael Caruso, Simona de Silvestro and everyone at Nissan Motorsport for all of their hard work in the time that Nissan Australia has been involved in Supercars.
“I’d also like to thank Nissan Motorsport fans, we truly appreciate your support and will continue to work hard to achieve the best possible results over the course of the season,” he concluded.
Just last month Ford Australia announced it was re-entering Supercars as a manufacturer via its support of Tickford Racing and DJR Team Penske and the debut of Ford Mustang on-track.
Since then, the Virgin Australian Supercars Championship itself had been touting a Nissan move to GT-R bodied racers for the series.
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