V8 Supercars: Nissan goes retro for Bathurst 1000

Nissan and Norton will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Nissan's first Bathurst 1000 pole position at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 this year. Drivers Michael Caruso and Dean Fiore's #36 Norton Nissan Altima will adopt a retro-themed livery for "The Great Race" at Mount Panorama this October, depicting the colors worn on George Fury's 1984 Nissan Bluebird.

Fury's turbo-powered entry stunned the field in the 1984 event, breaking the lap record in Saturday's traditional Bathurst Top 10 Shootout with a time of 2m13.85s, the first time a manufacturer other than Ford or General Motors had earned pole position for the Bathurst 1000. The record-breaking lap was also the first time that a turbocharged car had taken pole for the Bathurst 1000, and Fury's lap time would not be beaten until 1991 – coincidentally, by another Nissan – the GT-R R32.

Thirty years on, the Nissan Motorsport V8 Supercars team is paying tribute to the blistering Bluebird by running Nissan's distinctive "blue and red" factory stripes on the side of the #36 Nissan Altima.

Fury will also return to drive the actual Bluebird Turbo that took him to pole in 1984 at Bathurst this October in a special on-track demonstration. The car has recently been restored to its former glory by race car collector Brian Henderson, with assistance from Gibson Motorsport. Fury recently drove the car at Winton Motor Raceway in preparation for his Bathurst return.

"Bathurst has so many great memories, and George putting the Bluebird on pole was a special moment," said Caruso. "This is our way to celebrate that feat.

"Last year was great for Nissan to get back to Bathurst. We had our difficulties, but we had very good race pace. This year we'll have 12 months more experience with the Altima, and we're coming in with some good form.
"We are progressing really well and hopefully we can do something special."

Fury was a two-time Australian Rally champion with Nissan before switching to circuit racing. He won three Sandown 500s (1986, 1987 and 1990) and finished second in the Australian Touring Car Championship on two occasions (1983 and 1986). Fury made 10 starts in the Bathurst 1000 with a best finishing result of third in the controversial 1987 race. Eight of his 10 starts were with factory Nissan teams.

The 2014 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will be held Oct. 9-12.