Rick Kelly has finished as the highest Nissan Motorsport driver in the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship
Rick Kelly has finished as the highest Nissan Motorsport driver in the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship – the return year for Nissan to top-level Australian touring car racing.
Kelly brought home his #15 Jack Daniel’s Nissan Altima in 18th place in Sydney on Sunday, the final race of this year’s competitive championship.
Kelly was the most consistent of the Nissan Altima drivers in 2013, taking 12 top 10 results across the course of the season and finishing inside the top half of the field.
It was the best overall result of any of the new manufacturers in this year’s title.
Rick finished one place behind Jack Daniel’s Racing teammate Todd Kelly, who finished the year in 25th overall.
Norton Nissan driver Michael Caruso looked like he was best the best of the Altimas in the last race, but fuel strategy cost him a real shot at a top result. He ended up shadowing the Jack Daniel’s entries in 19th place. Caruso finished 23rd overall in this year’s championship.
Caruso’s Norton teammate James Moffat had a disappointing final race of 2013, failing to finish due to a driveline issue. After a competitive start to the season, including his history-making win at Winton in August, Moffat finished the year in 18th overall.
The V8 Supercars Championship heads into its off-season now, but it is just a 68 day break before the cars hit the track at Sydney Motorsports Park for the 2014 pre-season test day on 15 February 15 in Sydney, New South Wales.
2013 V8 Supercars Championship – Final Driver’s Points Standings after Race 36
1. Jamie Whincup 3094
2. Craig Lowndes 2966
3. Will Davison 2799
4. Mark Winterbottom 2793
5. Shane Van Gisbergen 2508
6. Fabian Coulthard 2501
7. Jason Bright 2381
8. Garth Tander 2322
9. David Reynolds 2058
10. Scott McLaughlin 1934
14. Rick Kelly 1754 (#15 Jack Daniel’s Nissan Altima)
18. James Moffat 1448 (#360 Norton Nissan Altima)
23. Michael Caruso 1233 (#36 Norton Nissan Altima)
25. Todd Kelly 1139 (#7 Jack Daniel’s Nissan Altima)
2013 V8 Supercars Championship – Final Driver’s Points Standings after Race 36
1. Red Bull Racing Australia 6100
2. Pepsi Max Crew FPR 5617
3. Brad Jones Racing 4927
4. Tekno Autosports 4474
5. Holden Racing Team 4330
6. Fujitsu Racing GRM 3340
7. Jack Daniel’s Racing – Nissan Motorsport 2958
8. Norton Hornets – Nissan Motorsport 2711
9. Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport 2285
10. Erebus Motorsport V8 2247
2014 V8 Supercars Championship Schedule
Pre-Season Test Day (Sydney Motorsports Park, NSW) 15 February 2014
1. Clipsal 500 (Adelaide, SA) 27 February-2 March 2014 N/C. F1 Australian Grand Prix (Albert Park, VIC) 13-16 March 2014
2. Tasmania 400 (Symmons Plains, TAS) 28-30 March 2014
3. Winton 400 (Winton, VIC) 4-6 April 2014
4. ITM 500 Auckland (Pukekohe, NZL) 24-27 April 2014
5. Perth 400 (Barbagallo, WA) 16-18 May 2014
6. SKYCITY Triple Crown Darwin 400 (Hidden Valley, NT) 20-22 June 2014
7. Townsville 500 (Townsville, QLD) 4-6 July 2014
8. Coates Hire Ipswich 400 (Ipswich, QLD) 1-3 August 2014
9. Sydney Motorsport Park 400 (Eastern Creek, NSW) 22-24 August 2014
10. Wilson Security Sandown 500 (Sandown, VIC) 12-14 September 2014
11. Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 (Mount Panorama, NSW) 9-12 October 2014
12. ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 (Surfers Paradise, QLD) 24-26 October 2014
13. Sargent Security Phillip Island 400 (Phillip Island, VIC) 16-16 November 2014
14. Sydney 500 (Sydney Olympic Park, NSW) 5-7 December 2014
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