V8 Supercars champion Rick Kelly has made a quick transition to Nissan’s GT-R GT3 in a test at Sepang, Malaysia, ahead of the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Kelly was invited to join the Japanese Nismo squad during a scheduled team test at the Grand Prix circuit ahead of next month’s race.
The 31-year-old will share the entry at Bathurst with Briton Alex Buncombe, Japanese Katsumasa Chiyo and Belgian Wolfgang Reip.
Although keen to drive the car before arriving at Mount Panorama, Kelly says that learning the GT3 machinery has proven relatively straight forward.
“I had a couple of sessions in the car yesterday, and it’s amazing to say the least,” said Kelly.
“The GT-R is an incredible car. With all the driver aids like traction control and ABS, it’s a very rewarding car to drive.
“It’s obviously left hand drive, which is foreign for me, but because of the paddle shift, it didn’t even enter my mind that I was on the other side of the car.
“The braking capabilities it has are unbelievable as well.
“I feel that I got the hang of it by the end of the first day. My lap times were good and I was learning more and more about the tyre.
“As you would expect with Nismo, the team is very professional, really good operators and they’ve treated me extremely well.
“The opportunity over here has been great. It’s allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, because I haven’t had many opportunities in other types of cars over my career.”
The test is also providing Kelly with his first taste of the Malaysian circuit.
“Sepang is a great track,” he said.
“It’s a very long track – over 2 minute lap time – so there’s a lot to learn, but this style of car with its aerodynamics is suited perfectly to it.
“I reckon it would also be an really fun circuit to have a V8 Supercars race on too.”
