Quintarelli: Lack of Performance Drove Retirement Decision

Ronnie Quintarelli says a lack of performance this year was the driving factor in his decision to end his SUPER GT career after this weekend’s Suzuka season finale.

The four-time GT500 champion and long-time Nissan driver announced his retirement last month, bringing to an end a 20-year spell in the Japanese sports car series, 17 of which were spent with the Yokohama-based marque.

It comes amid a troubled season for the No. 23 NISMO car Quintarelli shares with Katsumasa Chiyo, with the pair heading into this weekend’s postponed Suzuka 300km eighth in the GT500 standings with a pair of second-place finishes as their best results.

As well as Chiyo replacing Tsugio Matsuda as his teammate in the No. 23 car, Quintarelli has also had to cope with NISMO’s change to Bridgestone tires following the GT500 exit of the team’s previous long-time partner Michelin.

“Chiyo’s motivation and speed was so high, it was tough for me to follow,” Quintarelli told assembled media at Suzuka on Friday.

“Until last year there was the image that if Ronnie drives the No. 23 car, he is doing great. However, when I got into the car this year, my performance just wasn’t good enough.

“I’m very strict and if I were to rate myself, I would give me only 50 out of 100 points. It has not been a good season for me.”

On the timing of his decision, Quintarelli said that be began to consider hanging up his helmet after a tough weekend in August’s fourth round of the season, which followed a one-month break during which time he returned to his native Italy.

But he didn’t make the final decision to retire until he and Chiyo were eliminated from the title fight at the penultimate round of the season at Motegi.

“Fuji ended up being a really bad race for me,” said Quintarelli. “I pushed and pushed, but I couldn’t get the speed out. I felt really shocked. From there I thought that I maybe can’t do it anymore and that it’s time to retire.

“At Autopolis, my performance was once again not what I expected. Qualifying was ok, but not the race. I made the decision to retire after Motegi.

“I take the responsibility for not being able to perform. I told NISMO if I can’t win the championship, I will retire. When I told them that I made that decision, they respected it.”

Amid speculation that Quintarelli could potentially be replaced in the No. 23 car following this year’s performance, the Italian revealed he had no thoughts of potentially continuing with a different team within the Nissan camp.

“Last year, when we finalized the contract for this season, I told NISMO that I want to retire in the No. 23,” he said. “Maybe if I were still in my thirties, I could go to a satellite team, but I’m 45 now.

“Maybe I could switch, but perhaps my performance would go even further down from there. That wouldn’t be good for me or the fans.

“I wanted to finish it in the No. 23. That’s the proper way to do it.”

Quintarelli likewise ruled out continuing his SUPER GT tenure in the lower GT300 class, saying: “When I made the decision, I told myself that’s it for SUPER GT.

“This championship is an amazing category and a big world. But I also have this image that ‘Ronnie equals GT500’.”

However, Quintarelli didn’t dismiss the prospect of keeping himself race-sharp in other categories such as Super Taikyu in future, while ruling out racing outside of Japan.

“I’ve been building my body so much, so if I would stop racing, you wouldn’t be able to recognize me anymore a year later!” he joked. “I want continue to do some light and relaxed racing if given the opportunity.

“I live with my family in Japan and I want to continue my life here. I’m not in a hurry, but if I have the opportunity, maybe something like Super Taikyu. But I want to race in Japan, not overseas.”

After this weekend’s Suzuka race, Quintarelli will also be in action in the Inter Proto Series finale at Fuji at the end of December, and revealed speaking to Sportscar365 that he would like to continue in the category next season as well.