Nissan’s Lucas Ordonez hopes to be back in Australia for the Bathurst 12 Hour and Bathurst 1000 in 2014.
The 28-year-old Spaniard, who is best known for gaining his start in racing via a Sony Playstation video game competition, tested a V8 Supercar for the first time on Monday alongside fellow Nissan global driver exchange member Michael Krumm.
The pair is being touted by Nissan Motorsport as potential co-drivers for the team’s endurance campaign next year.
Although Ordonez’s participation in the Sandown, Bathurst and Gold Coast events is highly subject to clashing commitments, he appears a likely starter for the manufacturer’s Bathurst 12 Hour assault in February.
Nissan announced last month that it will enter the race with a Nismo-prepared GT-R GT3; a car with which Ordonez has significant experience in the FIA GT and Blancpain Endurance series.
Nissan has already confirmed that Rick Kelly will lead its 12 Hour driving line-up, with the 2006 V8 Supercars champion to be joined by a pair of internationals.
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“To do the Bathurst 12 Hours first with Rick Kelly in a GT3 would be a nice experience to learn the track and get used to it,” Ordonez told Speedcafe.com.
“To then go to the enduro races with this team (Nissan Motorsport) would be a dream, but obviously that’s not in my hands.
“At Winton we did a really good job and I learnt a lot about the car, so who knows.
“Hopefully next year (we can do the 1000), but at the moment we have to focus on next weekend with the SuperGT race in Suzuka, and then another race in Sonoma, California, in the 370Z.
“There is a lot going on before next year.”
The Bathurst 12 Hour has enjoyed strong growth since it became a GT event in 2011, with overseas interest in the race ever increasing.
Ordonez expects that the success of the 12 Hour can help boost the already significant international profile of the V8 Supercar race .
“The international motorsport media always talks about the Bathurst 1000, there are a lot of people that follow it,” he said.
“The 12 Hour will help some European drivers to get in here and get more knowledge about the circuit and of the V8 Supercar race.
“Obviously 1000km is a big race (but) it will be great to make it an even more important enduro.
“With the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Spa and maybe Suzuka, Bathurst is one of the top race tracks in the world.
“It will be an amazing experience if I can drive that next year.”
A provisional entry list for the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour was released last week, containing 44 cars.
