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Intercontinental GT Challenge

KCMG Confirms Nissan Exit, Porsche for 24H Spa

KCMG to move on from Nissan after Bathurst 12 Hour; grand plans for Spa and Nürburgring 24H races…

Photo: John Dagys

KCMG has ended its involvement with the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, with the Hong Kong-based team shifting focus to Porsche machinery for the Nürburgring 24 and a newly confirmed effort at the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

The expected end of the Nissan program came at last weekend’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour after campaigning the Japanese manufacturer’s second-generation GT3 car for the last two years.

It included a full-season effort in the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli last year.

As previously announced, KCMG will field a pair of factory-crewed Porsches 911 GT3 Rs in the Nürburgring 24 and NLS (formerly VLN) races this year, in what has now become the team’s primary focus for 2020.

“The focus is on the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring,” team owner Paul Ip told Endurance-Info. “We absolutely want to win this race before we think of anything else.

“The Total 24 Hours of Spa is shortly after the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, so we will be present at Spa with two Porsches.”

KCMG has established a base in Germany for the effort that will see factory drivers Fred Makowiecki, Patrick Pilet, Richard Lietz and Romain Dumas confirmed as part of its Nürburgring 24 lineup alongside team regulars Alexandre Imperatori, Edoardo Liberati and Josh Burdon.

Its lineup for Spa, which serves as the second round of the IGTC season, has yet to be confirmed.

Ip, meanwhile, hasn’t confirmed any additional races beyond Spa this year, although hasn’t completely ruled out additional IGTC appearances of its goals are reached. 

“If we win the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, we will see for the rest,” he said. “We also want to prepare the cars for 2021 and develop our relationship with Porsche.”

Nissan’s exit from KCMG means the Japanese manufacturer is unlikely to feature in any additional IGTC races this year beyond potential outings from local teams in the Suzuka 10 Hours.

Despite last-minute discussions with the SRO, Nissan has not been registered as an IGTC manufacturer this year. 

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

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