Heidfeld joins the GT Academy at the Nürburgring

Nick Heidfeld will be at the start of the 21 Hours of Nürburgring on June 24 in the Nissan squad which will enter three GT-R Nismo GT3s under the GT Academy banner. The driver who also defends the colors of Rebellion Racing will race in the No. 80 (for Nissan's 80th anniversary) alongside Florian Strauss who was chosen by the German last year in his capacity as a GT Academy judge German. The crew will be completed by Lucas Ordonez and Alex Buncombe, two other winners in the Gran Turismo sector. “It’s pretty incredible to find myself behind the wheel of the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring alongside Florian who is the winner of the 2013 edition of the GT Academy. This will be the perfect opportunity to continue my role as a mentor on the Nordschleife. We are going to face with Alex and Lucas one of the most demanding circuits in the world”, comments the former Lotus driver F1.

Nissan will enter two more GT-Rs on the German double clock. No. 30 (for Nismo's 30th anniversary) will be led by Michael Krumm, Kazuki Hoshino, Katsumasa Chiyo and Tetsuya Tanaka. “ It’s a real pleasure to drive a Nissan GT-R at the Nürburgring.”, comments the 2011 FIA GT1 champion. “It makes this event really special for me to know that we will be able to fight at the front. I have been waiting to have this chance for several years now. That being said, anything can happen on the Nordschleife and we will also need a bit of luck. It will be a big challenge for our young drivers. The Nordschleife is the most difficult circuit in the world and things can get even more uncomfortable with rain and fog. »

The latest Nissan entered jointly with Schulze Motorsport will be driven by Jordan Tresson, the 2009 GT Academy winner, and Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Grand Turismo series.