Mardenborough, Buncombe to make Super GT debut

Mardenborough, the 2011 GT Academy winner, teamed up with 2011 Blancpain champion Buncombe in British GT last year. The pair came close to winning the title at the first attempt.

The duo's drives come under the Nissan driver exchange programme, which is designed to give the Japanese marque's roster of drivers greater experience.

Inaugural GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez is already set to compete in Super GT at Suzuka, while he and Michael Krumm will test a V8 Supercar later this month.

Mardenborough, who took a class podium in this year's Spa 24 Hours but competes full-time in European Formula 3, said racing in Japan would fulfil a boyhood ambition.

"It is an amazing opportunity for me to have the chance to race in Japanese Super GT," he said.

"Before I started racing in 2011 there were three places that I always wanted to go: Dubai, USA and Japan.

"I've done the first two and now I get to go to Japan and I get to race there too. I will be racing GT300 but it will be good to get a close look at the GT500 cars too as they look so exciting.

"I would love to race regularly in Japan at some point in my career so this opportunity is very important for me."

Buncombe, who competes in Blancpain and shares a Nissan GT-R GT3 with Ordonez in this year's FIA GT series, added: "These are exciting times for me as I have never even been to Japan, let alone raced a Super GT.

"I've been watching people like Michael Krumm compete in GT500 on television for years now and it looks so good.

"It's the pinnacle of GT racing so naturally I have wanted to have a go for a long time."