The former head of engineering at NISMO racing outfit JRM, which has been a partner of the GT Academy process, lost his life in a road accident in Ashford, Kent on the 2nd of May.
Stepney had also been involved with Formula One for the majority of his career, and was part of the team assembled by Ross Brawn that helped Michael Schumacher dominate the sport, until the infamous "Stepneygate" saga involving himself and former F1 alumni Mark Coughlan in 2007. He had also worked with Shadow, Lotus and Benetton during his spell as an engineer in the sport.
His involvement within sportscars started back in 2008, joining the Essex-based Gigawave outfit, which along with supplying high-definition on-board racing car camera systems, were also competing in the FIA GT Championship that year.
Following on from that start in a new arena of racing, Stepney then joined NISMO in 2010, and helped to lead JRM Racing to the FIA GT1 World Drivers' Championship using the GT-R GT1.
He was also a key part of the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, who along with Lucas Ordonez, won the Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am Championship.
Our thoughts are with the entire NISMO operation and Nigel's family at this difficult time for all concerned.
In Memoriam
Nigel Stepney (1968 - 2014)