Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT
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If you haven't had the opportunity to check out the Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), or as it's now referred to, the Super GT series, you're missing out. Supras battle NSXs, Zs and Imprezas. Lamborghinis take on Ferraris, Porsches and GT-Rs.
There are two classes GT300, for vehicles producing 300 HP, and GT500 for vehicles that are making, you guessed it, 500 HP. Both groups attack the same course at the same time, which makes for some of the greatest wheel-to-wheel touring car action in the world. Back in December of 2004, GTLIVE convinced the organizers of the JGTC to head east for an exhibition run at California Speedway in order to gauge interest in the sport Stateside. It was one Hell of a show, but at the end of the day, the sanctioning body of the JGTC didn't feel it was worth the effort to come back the following year.
Follow the jump, for more on the V8-powerd NISMO 350Z, a pic of the engine and the full press release.
We're really disappointed, now that we know that NISMO, Nissan's motorsports arm and one of the dominant teams in the JGTC Super GT series, has equipped their Z33 (Fairlady Z/350Z) with a 4.5-liter V8. The old turbo'd 3.5-liter mill was nixed to gain an advantage over a field of competitors that have made significant improvements over the past three years (the NISMO team has set the bar, winning two championships in three years).
There isn't too much information about the car, as the team has to keep much of their data under wraps, but judging by the sinister look of the new Z, they've come a long way in both aerodynamic enhancements and weight reduction. Five of these worked over Zs will compete in this year's series (starting in just over a month) and will be campaigned by HASEMI Motor Sport, Team Impul and Kondo Racing, with the remaining two being used by the NISMO team itself. However, all the teams will benefit from factory backing.
PRESS RELEASE
February 9, 2007
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan Motorsports International Co., LTD
Nissan challenges SUPER GT Championship with new V8 engined Z
- 2007 Global motorsport programs announced -
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports International Co., LTD (hereafter NISMO)today announced their global motorsports activities for the 2007 season.
Nissan's factory Fairlady Zs (350Z) will now be powered by a stronger 4.5 L V8 engine aiming at victory in this years SUPER GT championship in Japan. Complimented by changes to the chassis and other key components, the competitiveness of the machines that won championships twice in the past three years has now been significantly improved.
The main focus of the factory-backed team this year will be their entry in the GT 500 Class of the SUPER GT Series, the premium racing championship in Japan. Further, support of national and international privateer teams will be provided as Nissan maintains its longstanding commitment to grassroots racing activities.
1. SUPER GT
Entry in SUPER GT with the Z33 type Fairlady Z. Continuing from last year, Mr. Kunihiko Kakimoto will lead as General Manager of all the Nissan teams, while Mr. Yoshitaka Iijima continues as Team Manager of NISMO.
NISMO will technically support and develop cars for teams entering SUPER GT with the Fairlady Z. A total of five Fairlady Zs from HASEMI MOTOR SPORT, TEAM IMPUL and KONDO RACING as well as NISMO will enter the GT 500 class.
The 2007 model Fairlady Z has been developed with a focus on the following areas:
1. Countermeasures to regulations changes (recovery of lower downforce and higher center of gravity)
2. Taking maximum advantage of the normally-aspirated V8 engine
A) Reduction of drag
B) Improvement of body stiffness
C) Weight-reduction
Teams
Car# Entrant Manager Driver Car Name
22 NISMO Yoshitaka Iijima Michael Krumm / Tsugio Matsuda MOTUL AUTECH Z
23 Satoshi Motoyama / Richard Lyons XANAVI NISMO Z
3 HASEMI MOTOR SPORT Masahiro Hasemi Sebastien Philippe / Masataka Yanagida YellowHat YMS Moba HO! TOMICA Z
12 TEAM IMPUL Kazuyoshi Hoshino Benoit Treluyer / Kazuki Hoshino CALSONIC IMPUL Z
24 KONDO RACING Masahiko Kondo Joao Paulo de Oliveira / Seiji Ara TBA
2. Privateer Support
A variety of motorsport programs will be supported by Nissan, allowing our customers to get the most out of their racing investments.
1) March Cup Race /Nissan Racing School:
Although set as an "entry class" category, the March Cup Race allows entrants to enjoy a real racing experience. Using the on-board data-logger lets entrants improve their driving skills while experiencing the excitement of driving a real racing car. A dedicated 'Racing School' using the March Cup cars will be held at each circuit prior to every race, and will feature instruction on proper racing etiquette and maintenance of the car. There will be one additional class added to the Racing School this season in order to provide the authentic environment for anyone who has never before driven a race car, giving them the opportunity to join the series. A GPS system which automatically records the driving patterns will be mounted on the rental cars of the Racing School, giving better guidance for the drivers.
2) Support to Privateers in National Series:
[SUPER GT GT300 class] :
Technical support will be provided to privateer teams. This year, three Fairlady Zs from two teams plan to make an entry to the series.
[Super Taikyu Series] :
Technical support will be provided to privateer teams. Endless Sports plans to have one car entered, and C-WEST will enter one Fairlady Z Version NISMO Type 380 RS-Competition in ST class 1. Furthermore, six Fairlady Z cars are planned for ST class 3.
[Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ) ] :
Formula Challenge Japan started last year with its objective of raising young Japanese drivers to become capable of making outstanding performances internationally. Nissan has taken part in promoting this category since its inaugural season. Also, an engine maintenance service will be provided by NISMO under the integrated management of the promoter. One Nissan Scholarship driver from last season will be promoted to the Formula Renault Series in Europe. This year, four drivers have been selected already as Nissan Scholarship drivers and will be provided support by the company.
3) Major Overseas Activities:
[China] :
China Circuit Championship (CCC) is the most popular motorsports category in China where Chinese drivers compete with touring cars which are developed off locally-built vehicle platforms. Last year, Nissan Tiida won the Championship in its debut year. Continuing from last season, entry to the CCC Touring Car 1600cc class will be made through the Dongfeng Nissan with the Chinese top team, Ghia Sports Team. Staying with the proven Tiida, the team aims to capture consecutive championship titles.
[USA] :
Nissan North America will support teams that enter Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) with the Nissan Titan in the Pro 2 class and Nissan Frontier in the Pro Lite class. The aim is for another double championship title.
[South Africa] :
Nissan South Africa will make its entry in the South African Off-Road Championship with the Nissan Navara, in pursuit of its 7th consecutive Driver's Championship title. It will also enter the South Africa Production Car Championship Race Series with the 350Z after its victory in the championship last season.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LBuzzer 8:16AM (2/13/2007)
Check out the V angle on that engine... sick.
I guess vibrations aren't too much of an issue when races are rather short.
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Howard Kerr 1:27PM (2/12/2007)
Wow, a few days ago, under an article here about the 800,000th Miata, I asked what would the later models of 240-280Z (the ZX series cars) have looked like if Nissan had just done as Mazda is doing with their car. That is, kept it small, light, and (somewhat)simple. As if the porky 350Z we now have isn't enough, now there's a V8 powered car in the works. Yeah, I know it's only a race car, and will probably never be sold as a 350Z, but it's still a shame that Nissan can't come up with a car like the original 240Z or the last model of the 240SX SE.
But hey, if it can REALLY give the 'Vette a run for it's money....I guess I won't complain too loudly.
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akintz 1:32PM (2/12/2007)
I think I've seen some of these races before, but does anyone know if they broadcast here in the US? Like on SpeedTV or anything like that?
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D Man 1:48PM (2/12/2007)
No matter what anyone says, Nissan makes great ENGINES! I am looking forward to the GT-R coming out. Now this, Nissan makes cars that are fun to drive.
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Deanno 1:56PM (2/12/2007)
I remember watching some of these long time ago on Speed channel before it went redneck NASCAR. Cool races from the Japanese Cicuits.
Speed Channel was great, now it shows NASCAR races in a stupid circle. How challenging is that! There are more automobile races out there than NASCAR!
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5 Watt 1:56PM (2/12/2007)
Lets see, a race series based on cars they don’t sell any more with drive train you cant buy. Who do they think they are, NASCAR. Plus the best wheel to wheel racing involves ether the ALMS or anything with a dirt track.
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dookie559 2:24PM (2/12/2007)
It was Speedvision that showed the JGTC(now Super GT)
races. It was sold and became Speed Channel
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gerald 3:19PM (2/12/2007)
Here is to hoping the things they learn from racing with a V8 trickle down to their production cars.
It would be nice to see a powerful V8 crammed into the G35 to go up against the IS-F.
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chris 3:27PM (2/12/2007)
This obviously means there'll be a V8-powered Nissan sports car of some kind (though not a Z I'd say) in the next few years. Part of the reason to drop the V6 was because they're already set on the GT-Rs development, now they're racing with a different engine to prepare for a car using a high-powered V8.
Oh, and this drivetrain does exist 5 Watt, it's called the VK45. Just like the previous VQ30 that this is replacing. And the only cars in the series that doesn't exist in production any more are the NSXs since Honda have nothing else to run currently and the RX-7 because being a GT300 car it's run by a tuning company (RE Amemiya), Mazda have nothing to do with it.
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naggs 6:29PM (2/12/2007)
"This obviously means there'll be a V8-powered Nissan sports car of some kind"
not at all, super gt has a long history of random powertrains ending up in cars that arent for sale. long after the supra was dropped, they switched to turbo 4 and more recently to a v8. dont count on this being any kind of forcast of future nissan powertrain
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bernie 8:28PM (2/12/2007)
A little off topic, but I agree with the Speed Channel comments. As a certified lifetime gearhead, it says something when I only watch a couple shows on Speed all week, and one is AutoLine Detroit.
Speed Channel used to show WRC, European and Australian sedan championships and all kinds of cool stuff. Now it's Barrett-Jackson, Product placement o-rama DIY shows and NASCAR.
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chris 9:35PM (2/12/2007)
naggs, the turbo-4 has featured in several cars for Toyota, that's why they used it instead of the I6 or a V8, because it gets more exposure for a more important engine. The V8 Supra brings exposure to how good Toyota V8s can be (soon to be used in a similar way in the IS-F for example) as Japanese V8s are largely ignored even in Japan. Nissan could easily get around the increasing limits put on turbos in Super GT by having a normally-aspirated VQ35 with well over 500hp, just as Honda does with their 3.2L V6. Their probably running the VK45 in a race car like this to develop a high-performance version of an engine that's more likely to be known for luxury cars and SUVs. There'll most likely be a V8-powered Skyline/G35 or higher-performance V8 Fuga/M45 to compete with the IS-F, M3, S4/RS4, etc. Especially as Infiniti is starting to spread into Europe, Japan and then Australia over the coming years.
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Sean Morris 11:42PM (2/12/2007)
There was an Infiniti G35 coupe that was V-8 powered that ran at the 24 hours of Daytona this year.
www.gtchannel.com has some Super GT stuff.
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Matt M 5:03AM (2/13/2007)
#11 Chris I think you need to check your facts.
1. You're wrong about why Toyota used the 3S-GTE in GT500, at least from what I heard a few years ago. Apparently the reason Toyota's JGTC Supra's had the 3S-GTE turbo 4 for several years was because of the 500hp cap in the GT500 class. Toyota could either choose to make 500hp from a heavier cast iron block 6 cylinder 2JZ or the lighter 4 pot 3S-GTE. Since power would be capped at 500hp regardless of the engine, they chose to go with the lighter block for better weight distribution.
2. You talk about how Nissan and Honda can get around the restrictions put on turbos by using high output versions of their 3.2L C32B and 3.5L VQ35DE respectively. Unfortunately you're absolutely 100% wrong. Honda uses a 3.5L version of their V6, NOT a 3.2L version. Nissan has NOT been using a naturally aspirated 3.5L VQ, rather they've been using a twin turbo 3.0L VQ30DETT since they replaced the RB in the R34 back in 2003. The reason Nissan is going with the V8 is to compete with Toyota who has won the GT500 class two years straight with their V8 Supra in 05 and their V8 SC in 06.
3. As for why Toyota decided to switch over to the 3UZ-FE V8 for 2005, IMO they took a page out of Nissan's book. Before Nissan replaced the R34 with the Z33 they ran VQs in the R34s during their final year (probably as more of a shakedown than anything else) but the new motor happened to be enough to give them the Championship. Toyota was probably already intending to replace the aging Supra with the SC for 06 so for 05 they gave the Supra to new motor to work out the kinks for the following year. However like Nissan in 03, Toyota's 5.2L V8 was more than adequate to take the Championship in 05. The reason Toyota went with a V8 was obviously because they went with the SC body style. Simply put, what other motor should they have used? The 3S-GTE is only around in what, the Caldina? The 2JZ was dead, and Toyota's newer V6s were unproven.
4. As for why Nissan is going with a V8 for 2007 that's simple... because Toyota's V8s have been whooping ass and beating up on Nissan's turbo 3.0L VQs and Hondas 3.5L V6s for the past two years.
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Ben 7:39PM (2/15/2007)
Im afraid the monster has killed American Muscle
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