The JRM Racing-built Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 undertakes its toughest challenge so far when it contests the 24 Hours of Spa this weekend. The race will be the car’s first 24 hour race after the shorter appearances in the Blancpain Endurance Series and it will go head to head with over 60 cars including the Ferrari 458 Italia, Audi R8 Ultra and McLaren MP4-12C. JRM will field two Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3s; one Pro car entry and a sister Pro Am entry.

Before the racing action got underway we caught up with the Pro Am #230 quartet of Charles Bateman (GBR), Matt Bell (GBR), Jody Fannin (GBR) and Humaid Al-Masaood (UAE).

Charles Bateman

Charles, 26, from Lincolnshire, started his career in 2004 in the Caterham Academy. The following year he raced in the Caterham Roadsports Championship before coming fourth in the UK Superlight Championship 
and sixth in the Caterham Eurocup in 2006. The Boston-based driver made his Carrera Cup debut in 2007, finishing eighth, a position he repeated in 2008. In 2011 Charles became a contender on the national racing scene, scoring wins in the British GT3 championship. He again raced in the GT3 class in 2012, teaming up with Matt Bell, and has contested the Blancpain Endurance Series for the first time this season.

Have you contested the Spa 24 Hours before?

I’ve raced at Spa before in British GT and I’ve done quite a lot of testing here, plus some Caterham races on the old circuit, but never the 24 hour race. It’s something I’m looking forward to as the approach is quite different. You need a lot more mechanical sympathy, so no kerb jumping! You also need to try to keep out of the pits as much as possible. The first aim is to finish – there are three lots of points this weekend so it means quite a bit for us for the championship.

Do you think Spa is a circuit that will suit the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3?

We tested the car at Spa for the first time at the test day and the car proved to be good in the changeable conditions, which is a real advantage. The power we have should help down the long straights and up the climb from La Source to Les Combes so I think it will perform well here. We need to make sure we are confident with the pedal positions as with four drivers we all have to be comfortable, but so far this has not been an issue so I’m quietly optimistic.

Matt Bell

Matt, 23, from Newcastle, UK, is an established sportscar competitor and race winner. The Brit brings his knowledge of the Blancpain championship, having competed in the series in 2012 alongside his commitments in the British GT and FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2011 Matt’s performances in the British GT championship garnered the attentions of the BRDC, who selected him for Rising Star status and subsequent full membership of the prestigious club. Matt also has experience of 24 hour racing having contested the Dubai 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours.

What are your aims for the weekend?

I see Spa as unfinished business. I raced here in 2011 but unfortunately we stopped after just six hours. It was a real shame as we were looking good in testing and when I got in the car I was P3. But then almost straight away the clutch went and I saw everyone sail past! It’s a very prestigious race so obviously everyone wants to do well, but finishing has got to be the first aim. Our reliability has so far been good and with the 24 hour package we have on the car this weekend I think we stand a fighting chance.

What is the key to success here this weekend?

The team has done a great job of preparing the cars this season. Every time out everything has been finished to a high standard and I’ve seen exactly the same attention to detail here this weekend. That is obviously very important when you’re looking for reliability. As a driver we need to be mechanically sympathetic – you’ve got to watch the kerbs in 24 hour races as they have more effect than normal. This year they’ve put some pretty anti social ones in so we will have to be even more precise!

What will the programme be for the weekend?

We’ll try to get some good options on both wet and dry set-ups if the weather allows it and then fine tune everything as we get closer to the race. The speed is there and we’ve been very close to the pace of the frontrunners in qualifying but have always been affected by traffic. I was particularly disappointed at the last race in Ricard as if you put all my best sectors together I would have been P2 in class but with the traffic I was actually P20. Then in the race it’s about being consistent, looking after the equipment and pulling together as a team.

Humaid Al-Masaood

London-based Humaid, who hails from Abu Dhabi, started racing five years ago. He went on to achieve third in the UAE Sports Car Championship in his first season before entering the Dubai 24hr race. At this first attempt he took a class win and in 2010 made the move across to Europe to race a GT4. In 2011 Humaid graduated to the SPEED Euroseries, which in turn led to an opportunity to race an LMP1 car in the American Le Mans series where he took four podiums in seven races. In 2012 Humaid moved to the Grand Am Championship.

Have you raced in the Spa 24 Hours before?

I’ve not contested this race, but I have raced at Spa before in Radicals and other categories and I was at the test day with the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. I love the track, it’s a very special place to race on, but I’ve never done the 24 hour race here. It’s not the first 24 hour race I’ve done – I’ve competed in the Dubai 24 hours three times already with GT cars like this, so the combination of these experiences should be very useful over the weekend.

How does your approach for 24 hour racing differ from the shorter sprint races?

We really need to consider the car as we have a lot longer distance to run. This means we have to stay away from any incidents and consider our strategy a lot more than we would in a sprint race to try to finish. We have been very strong in reliability so far this year, however.

You have one more driver this race, with Jody joining the crew. Does this change any preparation?

If we have double stints then we have more rest time between drivers so it will all help. We all work pretty well as a unit I believe.

Jody Fannin

Jody, who is half South African, half British and named after 1979 F1 world champion Jody Scheckter, made his GT3 debut at the opening round of the British GT championship at Oulton Park in April. Based in Surrey, UK, he took the British GT4 championship drivers’ crown in 2012 with partner Warren Hughes in a Ginetta G50 GT4, which earned him the rising star award from the prestigious British Racing Drivers Club at the start of 2013. He has also competed in the G50 class Ginetta GT Supercup, finishing third overall in 2011, and the Ginetta Junior championship in 2010, in which he finished the year as the top rookie with two wins.

You had not been to Spa before the test day last month – what are your thoughts ahead of the weekend?

I can’t wait but it will be a wet weekend! On the track walk it was raining, then grey, then raining again, and I think that will be the story of the weekend! Making the right calls on tyres and using as little fuel as possible will be the key to doing well as the pit lane is so long – it takes three minutes on average to get through as we use the old pits as well – so we have to be smooth all the time.

How have you prepared for the race?

I’ve been on a sim to drive the track and then I did the test day in the wet, which was a baptism of fire, aquaplaning a few times a lap! I’m sure the race will be brilliant – my first 24 hour race, my first time driving at night – I just want to get going now.

Source : JRM Racing