Stefano Comini at ease in Nissan GT-R

Stefano Comini, 21 years old, winner of the 2011 Eurocup Mégane Trophy with eleven victories in fourteen races, flew to Japan this week to discover the Nissan GT-R with which Lucas Luhr and Michaël Krumm won the Championship of the FIA ​​GT1 World. Last season Nick Castburg, winner of the 2010 Eurocup Mégane Trophy, convinced at Motegi despite the snow, this year it was in the rain at Fuji Speedway that Stefano Comini had to cope.

Arriving at the circuit laid out at the foot of Mount Fuji, about a hundred kilometers from Tokyo, Stefano Comini was supported by Ryo Watanabe, head of the Nissan Driver Development Program and the German driver Michaël Krumm, FIA GT1 World Champion aboard the car which was going to be entrusted to the Swiss. “The reception from Nismo was extraordinary” says Stefano Comini. ?The first shock was when I arrived in Tokyo, it?s an incredible city. Between the time difference and the excitement of driving a Nissan GT-R, I slept very little during the night from Thursday to Friday. But the whole team was great, starting with Ryo Watanabe, Michaël Krumm and Negishi Keisuke, the engineer I collaborated with. Despite the rain, they did everything to help me. We didn't know each other, but I discovered a very professional and serious team, with a different culture, but with people who were so open and welcoming. What an experience! »

“I was quickly reassured, because I found working methods similar to what we apply with Oregon Team in the Eurocup Mégane Trophy” continues Stefano. “Only a bad surprise, it rained a lot and driving on a wet track has never been what I like the most. » After a morning dedicated to refining his installation and getting to know the team, Stefano completed around twenty laps in the afternoon. “I quickly adapted to the car. It?s not difficult to ride and the sensations are fantastic. You feel the power, even in the wet. I turned a second behind Michaël, knowing that I would lose this second on a single corner, turn 6! I was a little disturbed by the carbon brakes, but the collaboration with Nismo was fruitful. We made some changes to the car?s set-up and I became more and more comfortable. »

Saturday morning, downpours greeted Stefano Comini and all the members of the Nismo team. Benoît Tréluyer, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, and Michaël Krumm judged the track impassable at the start of the morning. They waited until 10:30 a.m. to let Stefano take to the track. The Swiss showed his advantage and completed 17 laps at a sustained pace, putting on new tires at the end of the session. “Performance was not the main thing, the goal was to work well with Nismo, which we did. They liked Nick Castburg last year, I tried to be as constructive as him. After a Eurocup Mégane Trophy title, the GT is really something interesting. I would like to do other tests to try to set up a program in this discipline, like Nick Castburg did, who drove a lot for Nissan this season. »

At the end of the day, Stefano Comini was surprised to receive encouragement from a distinguished visitor, Carlos Tavares. As a seasoned pilot, the Deputy General Manager for operations Renault, shared with the Swiss his impressions of this test carried out in difficult conditions. Just like last year, Renault Sport Technologies and Nismo were completely satisfied with the approach and the work carried out by Stefano Comini given the difficult weather.