Shulzhitskiy Set for LMP2 Debut in Shanghai

Photo: Nissan

This weekend’s Six Hours of Shanghai will mark the LMP2 debut of another Nissan GT Academy graduate.

Following in the footsteps of Lucas Ordonez, Jordan Tresson and Jann Mardenborough, Russian Mark Shulzhitskiy is set for his first start in prototype machinery, having joined Greaves Motorsports’ lineup for the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season.

The 24-year-old gamer-to-racer will share the wheel of the British squad’s Zytek Z11SN Nissan with Eric Lux and Bjorn Wirdheim.

Shulzhitskiy, who has been competing in a Nissan GT-R GT3 in the Blancpain Endurance Series, got his first taste of the LMP2 car in a recent test at Snetterton.

“The Snetterton test was a great experience for me,” Shulzhitskiy said. “This is my first season of racing. I started in a GT4 car and then there I was on track at Snetterton, in the wet, in an LMP2 car! It was a good test and I feel confident going into the Shanghai weekend.

“The biggest difference between this car and a GT car is of course the downforce. The LMP2 car has more grip in the wet that a GT car has on a dry track. I really fell in love with this car.

“I’m looking forward to going to Shanghai as I have not been there before. I have been preparing in the Nismo Simulator so I know the track well. It’s an interesting circuit with some tricky parts, like the first two corners. My target is to do a good job, learn a lot and make no mistakes.”

Nissan’s Director of Global Motorsport, Darren Cox, added: “Mark has worked hard this year and put in a lot of effort throughout the season so it is gratifying that we can reward him with a drive in a World Championship sports car race.

“He has a very cool and calm temperament and I think he will do a great job for Greaves who in turn will look after another of our sports car rookies.”

The Greaves entry is one of nine cars expected to compete for LMP2 honors this weekend.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John