The Harvey Norman Supergirls Bathurst wildcard entry has been given fresh colours to go with its manufacturer switch ahead of this year’s Great Race.
Nissan has taken the wraps off a white, black and yellow livery for the Altima that Simona de Silvestro and Renee Gracie will drive at Bathurst.
The colour change comes courtesy of backing from camera company Nikon, which joins Caltex, Fujitsu, Dunlop, Wilson, Bathurst Regional Council and Bremtec on the car.
Last year celebrating Bathurst’s bicentenary by running the #200, the number has been changed to #360 this year in reference to a new Nikon 360 degree camera product.
Nissan previously used the #360 during its Norton sponsorship in 2013 and 2014, with James Moffat and Taz Douglas taking the number to second at Bathurst in the latter year.
De Silvestro has returned to Australia ahead of the October 6-9 event, visiting Nissan’s workshop at the weekend ahead of a two-day test at Winton this week.
“It’s great to be back in Australia,” said De Silvestro.
“This time around everything feels a bit more normal knowing the tracks we are going to, and even though I am with a new team in Nissan, I’m really looking forward to getting to work with them.
“My expectations are always high every time I get into a race car, and I know that Bathurst is a very challenging circuit and event.
“It’s also one full year since I have driven a Supercar, but I’m sure it will come back to me quite quickly.
“I think our biggest goal is to improve on last year’s result, and if we have a clean race then I’m sure we can have a good result at the end, finishing top 15 would be a great achievement.”
Gracie is naturally hoping the duo can improve on their 21st place finish from last year, which came after an early crash for the Australian.
“The first thing is to get comfortable in the car and focus on the end game,” said Dunlop Series regular Gracie.
“If we can stay on the lead lap then the ultimate result will take care of itself.
“I am not underestimating it one bit but having survived last year’s event in mixed conditions and still being classified as a finisher will surely be of some benefit to us during the course of Sunday.
“The team are very supportive and it feels like they’re really into the whole concept of what we are doing, which is great.
“They’ve put together a very experienced group of guys and I felt really good being there… we were cracking jokes and having plenty of laughs but things will get much more serious once the engine barks into life.”
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