EDITION 142 (2012/06/11)

News and Views

FIRST MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AT LE MANS

 

Nissan’s 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours campaign began in earnest last week with the official test day, which saw 15 cars running with Nissan power at La Sarthe: 14 LMP2 cars and the Nissan DeltaWing.  All of the drivers completed the mandatory 10 laps to qualify them to take part in the 2012 event.

The test marked the return of Martin Brundle to Le Mans, competing for the Greaves Motorsport team alongside his son Alex who is racing in his first Le Mans and Nissan’s first GT Academy winner, Lucas Ordonez.  The second winner of GT Academy, Jordan Tresson, also took to the incredible Le Mans track for the first time today in the Signatech Nissan LMP2 car.

Once Martin and Alex had completed their qualifying laps this morning it was the turn of Lucas Ordonez. The Spaniard finished in second place in LMP2 last year and is gunning to go one place higher this year.

After the successful Le Mans debut of Lucas Ordonez in 2011, Jordan Tresson becomes the second GT Academy winner to be promoted through the ranks to the Le Mans 24 Hours.  With Jordan in the Signatech Nissan and Lucas in the Greaves Nissan, this is the first time that two GT Academy winners will compete against each other in a world-class event.

The revolutionary Nissan DeltaWing completed its first running on the famous 13,6-kilometre Circuit de la Sarthe.  Invited to compete under the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's "Garage 56" classification that showcases new and innovative technology, the Nissan DeltaWing completed 54 laps with drivers Michael Krumm, Satoshi Motoyama and Marino Franchitti at the wheel.

The track action resumesthis week with the first practice session for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours on June 16 and 17, where a quarter of the grid will be powered by Nissan.

 

MARKETING NEWS

TopCar Gauteng Motor Show

Nissan’s presence at the TopCar Gauteng Motor Show was extremely well received with the most popular vehicles being the 370Z and JUKE.

Navara also stole the show in the bakkie category and was the meanest bakkie on the track.

Another attraction at the motorshow was the drifting, which saw Nissan dominate the track with the Ed Hardy boys in their 350Z.
 

Nissan Winter Classic

Just a friendly reminder that the eagerlyanticipated Nissan Winter Classic 2012 will take place in KwaZulu-Natal at the Durban Shongweni Club between June 14th and 17th . The Nissan sponsored event forms part of the countrywide Nissan Riders Series competition in which the rider who accumulates the most points over the series stands a chance to win a Nissan Juke. Once again we will be showcasing some of our finest vehicles at the test drive station located next to the main arena. There will also be a variety of stalls for you to browse through. For more information please visit www.nissan.co.za.

Nissan National Half Marathon, Wellington
 

This popular race will again be co sponsored by Nissan SA and Droomers Nissan will showcase vehicles and man a watering point. Our friendly sales staff will be available to answer all your Nissan questions. Details of the event are as follows:
 
Date: 25/26 August 2012
Venue: Diemersfontein wine & country estate, Wellington, WP S 33 39 33.7 | E 19 00 15.8
Terrain: Fynbos | Rocky | Vineyard's
Elevation: 341m | Ascent: 2900m (ultra) 1850m (75km)
Participants: 1800+
Features: Single tracks | Dams | Old Cape-Epic Routes
Registration: Fri 24/08 14:00-21:00 & Sat 25/08 06h30 - 16h00 & Sun 26/08 06h30 - 08h30
 
This event takes place on farm roads and jeep tracks heading away from Diemersfontein, through the vineyards and farms of Wellington, crossing the Bainskloof Pass road and heading towards Groenberg Mountain. The well-balanced, fast route is jam-packed with beautiful views, fynbos, historic farmsteads, stream crossings and vineyard settings, passing many of the local award-winning cellars. Expect fast flowing single track, technically within reach of everyone.
 
The Wellington Tourism & Wine Route of the Western Cape in South Africa is today a major tourist attraction. Nestling at the foot of the Groenberg, the historic town of Wellington lies in a picturesque valley on the banks of the Kromme River with the majestic Hawequa Mountains standing guard on its eastern border. Wellington, in the heart of the Boland and rich in cultural, religious and educational history, is an unsurpassed area to enjoy the winelands and scenery of the Western Cape in South Africa
 
The beauty of the area is best viewed either by foot, horse, bicycle or by car to take in the scenery of nature, fynbos, wine, olives and the historical buildings to name but a few. The pass up to Bain's Kloof winds through pine tree plantations, to the summit where on a clear day you can see a vast area, consisting of the Swartland to the left, home of the extensive wheat fields, the Cape Flats and Cape Town to the right, and the sun glimmering on the sea.
 
Diemersfontein is known for its beauty, informal elegance, and grace - an idyllic country destination only 45 minutes' drive from Cape Town and is situated near the Cape's famous Wine Routes. We warmly invite you to share with us the tranquil spirit of Diemersfontein - whether you are conferencing here, marrying here, staying for a few days of leisure (or even permanently) - or taking some of it home in a bottle!
 
We will also have a 5km kiddies ride in the venue so bring along your kids to the event, they will have a ball!
 
 
For more information, please visit www.advendurance.co.za

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

 

Carmakers and dealers intervened to prop up Germany's flagging new-car sales in May by registering vehicles in their own name to offset a decline in demand.Germany is generally considered to be a rare bright spot for car sales in Europe, but data is beginning to suggest that the industry is artificially inflating sales at record levels.German new-car registrations fell by 4.8% to 289977 vehicles last month, the weakest period so far this year.
Nissan expects auto demand in China's inland provinces to help it offset poor sales in Chinese coastal areas.Declining sales in the world's second-biggest economy may slow Nissan's push into overseas markets, including Russia and Brazil, that helped drive the automaker to record global sales in the last financial year ended March.Car sales in China climbed 5.2% in 2011, the slowest pace since the turn of the century, as consumers shunned local brands after Beijing scrapped tax incentives for small cars.China's economy is expected by economists to grow at its weakest pace this year since 1999.
Johan De Nysschen, who stepped down as head of Audi of America last week, is to become senior vice president of Nissan in charge of the Infiniti luxury brand worldwide.Hiring de Nysschen is a coup for Infiniti, which over the past few years has set ambitious global sales goals while targeting Audi as one of the upscale brands to beat.De Nysschen, 52, will report to Andy Palmer, Nissan's executive vice president in charge of product planning, business strategy, marketing communications and the Infiniti division.