Australian Matt Simmons will race in the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2016 with defending series champions Nissan GT Academy Team RJN and the all-conquering Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3. Simmons, winner of the 2015 Nissan GT Academy International competition, will race in the world’s most competitive GT sportscar championship next year, transforming from a Gran Turismo gamer and Australia Post courier van driver in 2015 to a NISMO Athlete in 2016.
Simmons, from Brisbane, Queensland, became the first Australian GT Academy winner when he won the International Race Camp at the Silverstone circuit in August. From there, he was based in the United Kingdom for three months undertaking the intensive Nissan Driver Development Program (DDP).
The progress, skill and dedication shown by Simmons throughout the program have led to Nissan and NISMO to commit to Simmons’ 2016 program early. With his full-time program already locked in, Simmons and Nissan GT Academy Team RJN will skip the 2016 Dubai 24 Hours in January to focus on preparations for the 2016 Blancpain Endurance Series. As part of Simmons’ progression through the Nissan Driver Development program, he has already tested the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 at the Snetterton and Donington Park circuits.
Nissan GT Academy Team RJN and the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 have successful history in the Blancpain Endurance Series, winning the Pro Class title with Katsumasa Chiyo, Alex Buncombe and 2012 GT Academy Europe winner Wolfgang Reip in 2015, as well as the Pro-Am Class title in 2013 with inaugural (2008) GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez.
