Gainer Z Breaks Cover; Won’t Run at Okayama

Gainer’s self-constructed Nissan Z GT300 has broke cover on the eve of this weekend’s Okayama SUPER GT season opener, but will not run this weekend.

The Kyoto-based team revealed last month images of its new contender, which replaces the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 as its weapon of choice for the 2024 season.

However, delays in the completion of the build of the car forced Gainer to skip both of last month’s official tests at Okayama and Fuji Speedway.

Hopes of conducting a private shakedown immediately prior to the season opener also failed to come to fruition, and on Friday evening the team announced that a decision had been made for the No. 11 car to sit out the weekend’s running at Okayama.

The fact the car has not yet been shaken down appears to be related to the decision.

Instead, the team will target giving the new Z its debut for next month’s second round of the season at Fuji, assuming a shakedown can be conducted in the interim.

Keishi Ishikawa and Ryuichiro Tomita were revealed back in February as the drivers for the No. 11 Gainer machine upon official confirmation of the project’s existence.

Gainer will still be in action this weekend as it supports the PONOS Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 shared by Kei Cozzolino and Lilou Wadoux.