MELBOURNE, Australia – Retail giant Harvey Norman announced its support of Simona de Silvestro's No. 78 Nissan Altima in the 2017 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.
The striking red livery of the Team Harvey Norman entry was officially unveiled at this year's Championship launch today at Adelaide Oval, with de Silvestro excited to get her season underway.
"The car looks fantastic – red goes faster, right?" said de Silvestro. "It's great to show off the Altima I will be racing this year, as well as announcing that Harvey Norman will be supporting me. Harvey Norman was with me at the last two Bathurst 1000s, so it's great to have them onboard again."
The 28-year-old Swiss driver has a decorated track record in open-wheel racing, recording a podium in IndyCar, and landing a testing role with the Sauber F1 Team. But this will be her first full-time season racing the Nissan Altima Supercar.
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Simona de Silvestro signs with Nissan Motorsport in Australian Supercars
"Everyone has been really welcoming to me since I arrived, so I can't wait to get racing," said de Silvestro. "We have started our testing program, and I'm feeling really comfortable in the car and with the team. This season will be challenging, as it's my first full year driving the Altima. But I have a great team around me, and I'm really looking forward to going racing at the Clipsal 500."
Having already raced with Nissan and de Silvestro during last year's Bathurst 1000 – in the Harvey Norman Supergirls Wildcard entry – today's announcement expands Harvey Norman's commitment with a new multi-year agreement.
"It will come as a surprise to no one that Harvey Norman have committed to a three-year partnership with Simona de Silvestro in her Supercars driving campaign for Nissan Motorsport," said Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page. "Simona has raced Formula-E, IndyCars and has had a taste of driving Supercars as one half of the Harvey Norman Supergirls Wildcard team at Bathurst. We know she is seriously talented. Harvey Norman seek out exceptional athletes: women who excel in their chosen sport, are driven to succeed, and train both mentally and physically to be the best and make a contribution to their sporting community. On every measure, Simona is that athlete. I can't wait to join 250,000 other fans and watch Simona race in the Supercars season opener next month at the Clipsal 500."
Nissan Motorsport also welcomes two major consumer electronic brands, LG and Lenovo, who will also support de Silvestro's campaign.
For Nissan Motorsport Team Owner Rick Kelly, the new season now has added excitement.
"It's always great to welcome new brands to our team," said Kelly. "We were fortunate to work with Harvey Norman last year, but to have them now as part of our team is a huge endorsement of what we're doing and where we're headed. With also LG and Lenovo involved, we have two new exciting brands to go and represent. So we're all very keen to get the season started."
In a special feature at the season opener in Adelaide, Team Harvey Norman will also see representation of SA Tourism.
"The investment by South Australia in this event is enormous and we are very grateful to Minister Leon Bignell and his Team for getting behind Simona during the launch of her full time Supercar campaign," said Kelly.
The No. 78 Team Harvey Norman Nissan Altima will first hit the track for a pre-season test at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 21 before the season-opening Clipsal 500 from March 2 to 5.
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Contact
Jane Johnstone
Marketing Communications Director
Global Motorsport Communications
Nissan/NISMO
Phone: +44 7979 710646
Email: jane.johnstone@nissan.co.uk
Paul Ryan
Marketing and PR Manager
Phone: +1 678 644 0404
Email: paul@nismosupport.com