The final round of the 2019 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship in Newcastle has brought to a close the ‘Nissan era’ for Kelly Racing and also for Andre Heimgartner.
2020 will not only see Heimgartner continue on with the Kelly Racing team for a third year and on a new multi-year contract; he will also be steering one of the team’s brand new Ford Mustangs with the Altimas officially now retired from the main game.
“It is sad to see the ‘Datsun farewell tour’ now officially draw to a close,” Heimgartner said.
“I have really enjoyed driving the Nissans with Kelly Racing over the past two years and doing all we could to get every inch of performance from them even when the odds were stacked against us; securing two podiums and five top ten finishes along the way.
“It was definitely a bit emotional out there today, knowing it was the last time I would be driving the ‘old Nissan’. It was a fun day out too, we didn’t quite have the speed to hang on to a top ten result but we had a good start and some great battles; it was an enjoyable race to round out 2019 and now we leave Newcastle with a real fire in the belly for 2020.
“We have a lot of work to do between now and the test day in February, but we are all very excited and I for one can’t wait to take those first laps in the Mustang at The Bend and to see what we can do across the 2020 season.”
In Newcastle, Heimgartner and the #7 Plus Fitness Nissan Altima brought home 18th in Saturday’s race as the team struggled with set-up while on Sunday he ran within the top ten for a large portion of the race before having to settle for 12th at the end of the 95 lap race.
Heimgartner and Kelly Racing will next be on-track for the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship Official Test Day at The Bend Motorsport Park on February 18 before the race season opens at the Superloop Adelaide 500 across February 21-23.
Comments