Nissan joined Holden in committing to staying in Supercars "as Volvo's impending withdrawal is about to be challenged by legal action," according to Mark Fogarty of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. After months of speculation and delays, Nissan Australia confirmed on Thursday that "it would continue backing a four-car team of Altima V8 racers for at least another two years." Nissan's long-awaited renewal ahead of this weekend's Sandown 500 "comes amid a looming ugly legal battle between Garry Rogers Motorsport and Volvo, who are in dispute over the terms of their separation at the end of this season." The Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker announced in May that "it would not renew its factory backing of GRM's two-car Volvo S60 team despite previous indications it would." Veteran team Owner Garry Rogers "has prepared legal action to try to force Volvo to continue supplying engines next year, which the company has rejected." As well as announcing renewed multi-million dollar factory backing for the Kelly Racing-run Supercars squad, Nissan confirmed Nissan driver Michael Caruso "was staying for another two years." His re-signing "comes amid speculation that 2010 Supercars champion James Courtney and Swiss international female star Simona de Silvestro have been targeted by Nissan" (SMH, 9/15).
