Australia’s GT Academy entry will start the competition’s finale on pole position after winning a preliminary team challenge at this week’s International Race Camp.
Queenslander Matthew Simmons and West Aussie Elliot Schutte combined to defeat two-driver teams from the USA, Turkey, North Africa and Mexico in a race for stripped out Nissan Micras at Northampton Raceway.
The win came after the Australian team’s coach, Nissan V8 Supercars driver Rick Kelly, made the call for an early pitstop under Safety Car.
The move eventually saw the Australian entry a lap ahead of the entire field once the pitstop cycle was completed.
“It was the first opportunity for us to go up against the other countries, and it was really nerve-wracking standing up on the pit wall – I can understand what my team go through when I’m out on the track,” said Kelly.
“The boys did an outstanding job, we took advantage of the early Safety Car while the others stayed out and from that point on we were in a really good position.
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“We put Matthew in with more than three quarters of the race to go and he handled it really well and managed his times consistently, getting us to the flag in first place.
“Last year we were the strongest team in a number of disciplines but being at the back of the grid for the final race cost us – this time we’re at the front so let’s see what happens.”
The third Australian still in the competition on Wednesday, Nick Dalton, bowed out during a series of elimination races in Monster Trucks.
After a morning challenge to eliminate one driver from each country, the final will see the field race Nissan 370Z Nismos cars around Silverstone’s Stowe circuit, from which judges will pick a single winner.
The victor is set to earn a full season in Nissan’s Blancpain Series GT3 program.
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