front needs moar low
Posted Feb 29th 2012 10:59AM
Comments19
Think of Japan's Super GT series and you're likely to conjure up images of competition versions of top-spec Japanese supercars like the Lexus LFA, Honda HSV and the Nissan GT-R lapping the likes of Fuji, Suzuka and Motegi, their thunderous 500-horsepower V8 engines drowning out the thunderous applause from the enthralled crowds. But that's just the GT500 class.
Below it there's also the GT300 class, where new challengers this season will include the Subaru BRZ, Honda CR-Z and even the Toyota Prius, all decked out for competition duty with no more than 300 horsepower on tap. So while Nissan has dominated the GT500 class with its purpose-built GT-R racing machine, this year it's fielding a much more production-based version in the GT300 class as well.
While the GT500-spec GT-R ditches its twin-turbo V6 in favor of a V8 – making it more akin to the production car in appearance than in substance – the GT300 challenger is closely based on the road car. It starts out with the Nismo GT3 version (pictured above), and from there applies modifications like an air restrictor to bring it under the 300-horsepower cap to comply with series regulations.
The car is being fielded by the Nissan Driver Development Program, and forms part of the global motorsport program which the Japanese automaker just announced, with participation in both classes of Super GT, Le Mans and associated series, various GT and off-road series here in North America and even the Australian V8 Supercars series. Follow the jump for all the details and an spectacularly cheesy 80s-style montage clip.
