PWC Nissan GT-R program set for changes

Nissan's factory-supported Pirelli World Challenge GT program will undergo significant changes in 2017 as its two-car effort will reduce to one. The Always Evolving team will also be responsible for funding the entry as it converts to a customer program after years of direct Nissan funding and involvement with the effort led by Aim Autosport.

The decision to pull corporate support for the PWC GT program had been rumored for months, and with the recent decision being made final, the timing of the change came at a much later date than was optimal for the team. The single entry is expected to participate in the full PWC calendar, barring the opening round at St. Petersburg.

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The pending delivery of a new 2017-spec GT-R GT3 should take place in time for the team to make its debut at Long Beach. Its full-time driver choice and speculation on whether it will add PWC SprintX rounds to its calendar is expected to be answered next week.

"It will be a one-car effort and it is a customer program," Nissan's Rick Kulach told RACER. "We're still partners with World Challenge and will be working with their marketing arm, but our [racing] involvement has been reduced."

Team representative Dave Green says the upcoming season will be one where developing the new Nissan GT-R chassis will take precedence.

"2017 is going to be a year where we're working towards learning the car and getting it ready to get more wins for our sponsors," he told RACER. "We're proud to continue in PWC, and news on our drivers and the extent of the program will be arriving soon."