Nissan’s official UK factory squad RJN Motorsport will return to the British GT fold this season with two 370Z GT4s entered under the UltraTek Racing banner.
The deal sees long-time UltraTek drivers Richard Taffinder and Martin Plowman reunited in the first of the Nissans, while another of the team’s stalwarts, Tim Eakin, is joined by former Emmerdale actor and British GT newcomer Kelvin Fletcher.
Birmingham-based UltraTek Racing contested the British GT4 class with Lotus Evoras in 2015 and ’16 but make the switch to NISMO machinery with three-quarters of the same driver line-up that competed in the latter part of last season.
Former Le Mans winner and LMP2 WEC champion Plowman should finally have the tools at his disposal to move the team forwards, while the arrival of Fletcher after a season spent racing in BTCC adds another intriguing dimension.
This year will be the first since 2014, when RJN and Strata 21 ran GT-R GT3s, that the Nissan name has appeared on the British GT grid. It will also be the first domestic full-season campaign for a 370Z GT4; its only previous appearance came at Zandvoort in 2013.
UltraTek Racing MD and driver Taffinder believes RJN and Nissan offered the perfect opportunity to progress.
“It was a tough decision to switch teams and brands, but we feel it is the right time,” he said. “Having given this an enormous amount of thought, the brand fit with Nissan will deliver both the reliability we need and the longevity to support our programme as it has a range of cars that will help us progress on our road to Le Mans.
“I have been very impressed with the team at RJN, they are a highly professional outfit, and the links they have to Nissan are a bonus. It is important to mention Martin Plowman, who has been instrumental in bringing the deal with RJN to fruition. We are in perfect shape for the start of the 2017 season.”
Fletcher, whose previous experience also includes Porsche Carrera Cup GB, sees British GT as the next step in his motorsport career.
“I’m excited to be racing with UltraTek in British GT, I have long admired the championship and know the UltraTek Racing Nissans will be immaculately prepared by RJN,” he said.
“Since passing my ARDS four years ago, I have wanted to try as many types of motorsport as possible so I jumped at the opportunity to race in British GT. Plus, Martin Plowman was a huge support to me last year and I’m over the moon to be racing alongside him, especially as we are supporting Tim and Richard as they develop en route to Le Mans.”
RJN Managing Director Bob Neville added: “We’re delighted to be working with Richard and the team at UltraTek Racing, they have been very thorough in their preparations and are taking this year’s campaign very seriously.
“We have always held the British GT Championship in high regard, we have many good memories of the championship and are very much looking forward to making some new ones.”
UltraTek’s GT4 testing programme begins later this month ahead of 2017’s opening round at Oulton Park on April 15 & 17. Click here to secure your tickets.
Plus, don’t forget there’s free general admission to British GT’s Media Day, which will be held at Snetterton on March 28!