Nissan Motorsport will only have two of its four Altima V8 Supercars on track for the official pre-season test at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend.
The team’s test car, which will be campaigned by James Moffat, and its second chassis, for Rick Kelly, will both run on Saturday.
While remaining drivers Todd Kelly and Michael Caruso will attend the test, their cars will not hit the track until undergoing shakedowns at Winton mid-next week.
A team statement confirmed that the squad has clearance from V8 Supercars for its late change of plan.
“We will have two Altimas on-track at Sydney Motorsport Park collecting data and information at this Saturday’s test, allowing our engineers and mechanics to concentrate on those two cars,” said Todd Kelly.
“As a result, this will allow a group of our staff to remain at our workshop in Melbourne to not only put the finishing touches on my Jack Daniel’s Altima and Michael’s Norton Altima, but also continue to develop all areas of our race package.
“A two-test strategy allows us to give a high level of attention to two cars at each test, in Sydney on Saturday and then at Winton a few days later.
“It also allows many of our staff to remain at our facility to continue work on both the chassis and engine side of our brand new Nissan Altima V8 Supercar program.”
Like the Mercedes-Benz M159, Nissan’s VK56DE has yet to be taken through V8 Supercars engine homolgation process, which is scheduled to take place in the coming week.
It is now expected that 25 cars will run at Eastern Creek on Saturday, with Dick Johnson Racing only having one of its two Ford Falcon entries ready for action.
