Nissan has unveiled its bid for V8 Supercar glory.

The Altima V8 Supercar will join the line up at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide in February next year and Nissan is also planning the launch of the Altima as part of its model range in 2013.

Nissan Australia CEO William F Peffer Jr joined team co-owners and Bathurst-winning drivers Todd and Rick Kelly to unveil the company’s new pride and joy.

“This is a proud day for Nissan and a significant occasion for the sport of V8 Supercars,” said Mr Pefferr.

“Unveiling our Nissan Altima V8 Supercar, the first new V8 Supercar model in two decades, brings Nissan’s special brand of ‘innovation and excitement’ to the V8 Supercars Championship.

“2013 will be an enormous year for Nissan in many ways, with several important new models set to launch next year. One of those will be the all-new 2013 Nissan Altima, the first time the Altima nameplate has gone on-sale in Australia, and what better way to introduce Altima to Australia than to have it on-track in the V8 Supercars Championship from the start of next season.

“Everyone at Nissan is right behind our team, led by Todd and Rick Kelly, and we are excited about hitting the track next season with this spectacular Altima V8 Supercar.”

Behind the push for glory is Nissan’s VK56DE engine which took the company to FIA GT1 World Championship glory in 2011.

Bathurst 1000 winner (2005) and team racing director Todd Kelly said the launch of the Altima was a big occasion for the team.

“This is the proudest day in the relatively short history of our team, as well as one of the most significant days in recent times for the sport of V8 Supercars,” said Mr Kelly.

“Our team has done a tremendous job to design and build an all-new V8 Supercar, including a new engine, in roughly nine months.

“The look of the Altima and sound of the VK56DE engine are second-to-none. Once V8 Supercars has homologated the aerodynamic package on the Altima, we will begin our testing to ensure it drives as fast as it looks and sounds.”

Rick Kelly, 2003 and 2004 Bathurst winner, 2006 V8 Supercars Champion and team commercial director, said that the team had ambitious goals for the 2013.

“Next year will be the first time in my career that I will be a factory driver and it’s a responsibility that I am not taking lightly,” he said.

“Our entire team is working harder than ever to ensure that we rise to another level as we transform into Nissan Motorsport for next season.

This is the most exciting time in our sport for two decades and it is amazing to think that our team is at the forefront of this change.

“A lot of hard work still lies ahead but we want to ensure that Nissan Motorsport is competitive next season and is a force to be reckoned with in the not-too-distant future.”