Nissan hits back with new GT-R for Super GT
Mon, 19 Aug 2013
New drivers, new tracks and new regulations can go a long way towards shaking things up, but nothing can make a racing series more exciting like fresh machinery – and Japan's Super GT championship is going to have just that in spades. Honda recently revealed its new NSX GT (in concept form, anyway), and Lexus its new LF-CC racecar. But as the current two-time reigning champions, Nissan isn't about to give up without a fight, and to that end, it has announced a new version of its GT-R to compete in the same top-tier GT500 class.
The changes incorporated into the new Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 aren't as drastic, of course, as the all-new cars Honda and Lexus are working on. But it still has to comply with the new regulations, which have been sync'd up with Germany's DTM series in all aspects except for engine specs. Those remain unique to Super GT, which calls for V8 engines with no more than 500 horsepower – not the twin-turbo V6 you'd find in the road-going GT-R.
After undergoing its first shakedown last month, Nismo demonstrated the new GT-R GT500 at the Suzuka race this past weekend and will showcase it at the Nismo Festival at Fuji in December. The real action will kick off next spring.
NISSAN GT-R NISMO GT500 READIED TO COMPETE IN 2014 SUPER GT GT500 CLASS
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (NISMO) today unveiled the new-for-2014 rules' compliant GT500-class spec SUPER GT machine, the "Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500."
From 2014, cars in the GT500 class of SUPER GT will be developed based on the same new technical regulations (except for engine-related regulations) as the DTM (German Touring Car Championship), ensuring that the battle among SUPER GT machinery will be intensified.
NISMO, responsible for the motorsport activities of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., has developed the Nissan GT-R to meet these new 2014 rules. Development of the car, which underwent its initial shakedown at the end of July, was unveiled earlier today and will be displayed and conduct a demonstration run at Round 5 of the SUPER GT series at Suzuka Circuit on August 17 and 18.
Further details, including participating teams, will be announced at a later date.
In addition, the 2014-spec Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500 is scheduled for exhibition and demonstration runs at the NISMO FESTIVAL, to be held at Fuji Speedway on Sunday, December 1st. Event details about the NISMO FESTIVAL will be posted on the NISMO website (http://www.nismo.co.jp) as soon as they have been decided.
By Noah Joseph