V8 Supercars: Nissan surprised by car's pace on test debut
Nissan's V8 Supercars test debut went even better than the team could have hoped, according to drivers Rick and Todd Kelly
Two of the Kelly family team's four new Altimas took part in the official pre-season test at Eastern Creek on Friday, with Rick Kelly going fifth fastest.
Kelly was 0.6565 seconds down on pacesetter Jason Bright, and the fastest non-Holden in the 25-car field.
Todd Kelly said the result was amazing given that his brother's car had not run at wheel prior to the practice day.
"The pace has been, I'd almost say surprising," he admitted.
"We still have a lot of work to do on the engine side still by refining our engine package, but the way the car is handling has probably masked that and almost overcome it."
Rick Kelly insisted that Nissan had stuck to a relatively conservative programme for the test.
"The first hour we just worked through the initial electrical things and bits and pieces we had to sort out to make sure everything was working well," he said.
"An hour and a half into the day we ran our first set of tyres and at that point it took us straight to the top three, which is very exciting.
"Everyone's not necessarily trying to go fast, but working through their programmes and so are we, so for us to show that amount of speed up front I think is very promising."
When Nissan ruled Australia with its 'Godzilla' Group A special
The Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R was the fastest Group A touring car ever. It cleaned up at the Bathurst 1000 and in the Australian Touring Car Championship, and is fondly remembered by the drivers who monstered it to success on the world-famous Mount Panorama
Ranking the top 10 Supercars drivers of 2021
It may have been a one-man title fight in Supercars this season, but behind dominant champion Shane van Gisbergen were some fascinating performances. Autosport picks out the best drivers of the 2021 campaign.
The well-travelled racer now Supercars' elder statesman
James Courtney has been around the block in his motorsport career it's fair to say. After a single-seater career cut short, he's won everything there is to win in Supercars. Following a rocky ride recently in the Australian category, he's found a happy hunting ground with Tickford Racing, as Andrew van Leeuwen explains
How taming his temper shaped Supercars' slow-burn star
His decision to leave Brad Jones Racing was the biggest shock of the Australian Supercars silly season so far. But for Nick Percat, it comes as the culmination of a personal journey that has made him into one of the most rounded drivers in the series, now in search of a seat that can make him a champion
Why replacing Supercars' GOAT with a teenager is worth the risk for T8
On the face of it, picking an 18-year-old rookie to replace arguably the greatest Supercars driver of all time is a risky move. But as Jamie Whincup takes up a team principal role and hands his car to Broc Feeney, it's one that he is confident will be rewarded in the fullness of time - time which wasn't afforded to Whincup in his early days
Can DJR still be a Supercars powerhouse after Penske?
OPINION: Roger Penske's operation helped lift Dick Johnson's faltering Ford team back to the top of Australian tin-tops. But, despite The Captain's departure, along with star driver Scott McLaughlin, there's no reason to expect an imminent decline from DJR
Why Whincup's next move is no calculated gamble
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But the team's outgoing boss Roland Dane has full faith that he'll be up to the task
The top 10 Supercars drivers of 2020
In a year of few constants, the Australian Supercars championship could be relied upon for its usual blend of rough and tumble racing with a V8 soundtrack. But who were its top performers in 2020?