The Return Of The Kelly Gang

Despite losing its factory status from Nissan at the end of 2018, Kelly Racing is fighting back with its best season yet running the Altima as Todd Kelly leads from outside of the driver’s seat.

- Bruce Newton

For just a moment there’s anger in Todd Kelly’s eyes and his mouth firms into a thin line. He doesn’t like the question, or the insinuation behind it.

Surely, he’s asked, winning just two Super cars races in five years played a role in Nissan Australia’s decision to cut its ties from the end of 2018 with the team he co-owns?

For all the effort to get the Altima aerodynamics sorted, the VK56DE multi-cam V8 engine competitive and all the brilliant sponsorship activations, the lack of on-track success must have been a factor in the end?

“To say we have won two races… that needs to be put into perspective because a lot of people focus on that,” Kelly answers, through slightly gritted teeth.

“In this day and age, in this category, to win a race and get a pole positon or a podium with what we have got here is like winning the championship.

“To get our engine out of a road car to perform against the current [Ford and GM push rod racing] engines is bloody significant.

“People take that way too lightly. If anyone actually knew what was involved in getting a car competitive let alone beat the operations that we are racing against… it’s massive.”

“To me that’s like winning Bathurst every year; getting the cars to the front is huge. I see this whole thing with what we have had to do as a complete success.”

Todd’s sitting in the boardroom at Nissan Motorsport’s sprawling workshop in the southern Melbourne suburb of Braeside. Up here in the front offices it’s all chrome and glass. Racing paraphernalia and evidence of the Nissan relationship are everywhere.