Nissan's most recent GT Academy winner, Jann Mardenborough, starts his first full season as a professional racing driver this weekend at the temple of speed itself: Monza. The 20 year-old British racer will take on the dauntingly fast Monza track in the new Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3.
The No.35 GT Academy Team RJN car will be up against some stiff competition this weekend from brands such as Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Dodge, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes and Porsche.
The extra twist is that one of the Ferrari 458s will be raced by none other than nine-time world motorcycle champion Valentino Rossi. This means that Jann has gone from entering GT Academy as a total beginner to racing Rossi in just one year.
"Il Doctore" won't be Jann's main focus at Monza though. He is there to do a job for his team and get the best possible result, along with his teammates Alex Buncombe and Chris Ward. First on his job list is to learn the Monza track.
"I've never even been to Monza before let alone raced there," said Jann. "I've driven it on the PlayStation so I know which way the corners go and I can't wait to get out there for real. Monza has incredible history and I really hope I can grab a moment to go and check out the old banking that the F1 cars raced on in years gone by."
"Qualifying will be important for us as the start of the race is going to be very hectic with over 55 GT3 cars thundering down into Turn One," he continued. "The GT-R has very good high speed stability and fantastic brakes so I hope we can go out there and get a great result. We want to do well in this championship so we need to do a good solid job and not take any big risks."
It's one year since Jann entered the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy and it has been a whirlwind of a year for him on Nissan's driver development program.
"It's the best feeling ever being a professional racing driver," said Jann. "Just hearing the GT-R start up at a race weekend makes me smile and chuckle to myself. I still can't believe it!"
Is he fazed by the great Rossi?
"I don't know too much about bikes but I know he is the guy to beat on them. Actually I need to get his autograph for a friend of mine."
Catch the Action
You can follow the action from Monza online at http://www.blancpain-endurance-series.com/ where live streaming and live timing will be available.
As always you can keep up to date with the goings on via www.radiolemans.com and www.dailysportscar.com.
The three-hour race gets underway this Sunday at 1415 hrs local time.
2012 Blancpain Endurance Series Calendar
April 15: Monza, Italy
June 3: Silverstone, UK
July 1: Paul Ricard, France
July 28/29: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
September 23: Nurburgring, Germany
October 14: Navarra, Spain
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