The opening minutes of the Blancpain Endurance Series Official Test Days at the Circuit Paul Ricard saw the first opportunity for the racing media to see the new 2015 specification Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 that will contest the full Blancpain GT Series in the highly competitive Pro Class for the MRS GT-Racing team.
And there was the first opportunity too to see the full 2015 driver squad as the already confirmed Sean Walkinshaw and Craig Dolby were joined by new season signing Martin Plowman.
Plowman joins the MRS GT-Racing effort with an impressive CV behind him:
A race winner in Indy Lights, Martin went on to race in the IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500.
More recently he has had global success in sportscars taking the FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class, powered by Nissan, in an Oak Racing Morgan in 2013, including a win at the world famous Le Mans 24 Hours.
For 2015 he turns to GT Racing and is very excited by the prospect of a season aboard the MRS GT-Racing Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.
“I already know what NISMO can do. It was their engine that powered me to World Championship success so I am expecting great things from the new Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.
“The car looks great, feels great and I am super happy with the programme that MRS and JRM Group have put together.
“Looking at the entry list it is going to be a tough year, but I’m sure the others are looking too and my guess is that we’re on their ‘hard-to-beat’ list.”
“My time in the World Endurance Series showed me that the discipline of a multi driver squad and longer races suits me very well.
“The Blancpain Series takes us to some fantastic circuits, with big grids and 20+ cars in the Pro class alone. These are races that any team, and any driver would be proud to win, in particular the blue riband event, the Spa 24 Hours. A race I would love to add on my cv alongside the Le Mans win!
For MRS GT-Racing – Karsten Molitor said:
“It is great to have a driver line-up, and a car, that we can be confident will be in contention this year.
“NISMO have made a great step forward with the 2015 GT-R and now it is up to us to make the most of its potential.
For JRM Group Partnership Manager James Walters said:
“Martin is the perfect final piece in the jigsaw. Everyone is now looking forward to the racing that lies ahead.
“To have Martin’s experience, alongside that of Craig Dolby, should be the perfect environment to develop our new young development driver Sean Walkinshaw.
“The next two days give us a great opportunity to get the whole team working well together, learning about the car and each other. We want to hit the ground running when the season proper starts.