For the 2014 season of Japan’s Super GT series, technical regulations (excluding engines) have become partially aligned with those of the DTM (German Touring car Masters), which means Nissan has to modify the GT-R Nismo racer to comply with the new rules.
All cars competing in the series will have to have common monocoque, transmission, brakes, dampers and fuel tank.
Competing in the GT500 class, the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500 looks as fierce as one would expect given its name, but differs significantly from its road-going alter ego in the engine compartment.
While the street-legal GT-R Nismo is powered by a 592hp (600PS) 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, the GT-R Nismo GT500 sources its power from a turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit codenamed NR20A.
Nissan doesn’t say how much power this unit produces, but judging from the way the engine pulls it’s obviously more than enough to wow spectators. Furthermore, the racing GT-R Nismo is rear-wheel drive and should be a lot lighter than the road-going model.
You can watch it during a test session at Japan’s Fuji Speedway in the following video, but first make sure the volume is on because you don’t want to miss the sound of the engine.
By Dan Mihalascu
VIDEO