European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 04, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday october 4. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 23 Julian Bailey s Nissan r89c 23 shows resilience during september s super cup race on the . West Germany. Despite Sears no problems. Hie car finished third. Nissan Fields a Comer in a coming Field Story and Phulps by Randy Barnett Mon sports editor the new world championship series for group c sports prototype cars won this year by the powerful Sauhar Marc cacs team is gaining stature rapidly. The Wilca behind this new series is to draw the world s lop car manufacturers into it. And if every thing continues Well the starting grids for the 1990s will prove formidable indeed even rivalling formula one in popularity. One of the big surprises of this season has been __., provided by Nissan whose 800-Horsepowcr re c twin Turbo has improved rapidly from race to race. The single entry Nissan led the Mercedes cars on their Home grounds in the German world championship round before fuel prob lems intervened and the Lone Nissan also finished third behind the two Mer cedes cars at both Donington Park. England Howard Marsden and in spa Franco champs Belgium. At Donington Park a slow puncture prevented a possible Victory. In Germany s Stipe cup series meanwhile the Nis san r89c won the Dic Phol race Over a Licet of porsche 962 cars. And considering  Nissan sports prototypes have been dominant in american Simsa lacing Winn the i Mesa championship in i 1 s8 and again this year perhaps the advances by Nissan in the world sports prototype championship should not be viewed As Overly surprising. During the recent super cup finale on the Nii Burg ring where Nissan finished third we talked to Howard Marsden. The team director. Marsden s organisation is based in Milton Keynes England which is Headquarters for Nissan Molo sports Europe. Along with the world sports prototype championship program Marsden brought the Nissan car into the German super cup Competition to accelerate development on the basis of the More races the  we be been working together As a team for Only nine months so it s obvious that we have made great Progress this season Marsden said. We re very pleased with our results so far but we still have much development work to do for 1990. The 1990 car will be a further development of our current  looking toward next season Marsden says the ultimate aim is to win the championship but he added that a two car team will be necessary to achieve that aim. A decision on a two car team is due soon he says. Discussing the values of racing from a commercial standpoint Marsden stresses that racing plays a major role in sales and marketing and in establishing corporate and product images. Research tells us that there Are three motor sports events that impress the general car buying Public and these three arc the Indianapolis 500, the 24 hours of be mans and the Monte Carlo rally Marsden said. And along with those events our research tells us the winning dryer Julian Bales Walls As mechanics make adjustments Durlin qualify ill at West Germany s . Of a world championship can prove equally valuable. Our aim is to win the world championship in sports car racing. This Type of racing gives us a High tech image corporate identity and the Means of promoting Nissan the product. Nissan s winning in the american Simsa series has proved very valuable for the Nissan Market  Marsden says that Nissan is involved in a non Stop program with Many targets among them to achieve a competitive 3.5-Liicr normally aspirated engine for the 1991 season Turbo engines arc out after next year s world championship. Regarding a two car team for 1990. Marsden said we must make a decision on that soon perhaps by the end of october. Obviously a two car team is far More capable of winning races. With just one car. A puncture can end your race. But if you do run two cars you must base a to car training Carso that would make three cars necessary for 12 world championship races and there s also a full Nissan rally program projected for i9vo. So it boils Down to can we do it there Are Only so Many Nissan engineers to go round. So for net year we May Hae to Gamble with another single car entry. We know now that we base a Good product and a Good team and two cars would be Ideal. But the japanese take the Long View. While we see next season As another vital one they look at the whole program for the Long  if we should have a two car team we must hire More  Marsden said. We be been flattered by a Large list of applicants and our requirements Are not Only Talent but intelligence and Strong team spirit. After All this is a team  final race in this year s Campaign takes place on oct. 29 in Mexico City and Marsden feels that Nissan can win there in its first year on the world s circuits. It s the first time for everyone on that track he said so Mexico puts us All on an equal footing. And we finally have our tire problems sorted out so i think we can win in  Mexico the various teams will be preparing and developing their cars during the Winter for the enlarged 12-race season in 1990. Among entrants for next season Are defending Cham Pion Mercedes Nissan. Jaguar Toyota. Mada Pri vate porsche Aston Martin and others. The French Peugeot firm is also coming in for the 1991 Campaign so the Outlook is Bright for the new world championship sports car series