In 2008, Nismo introduced the GT-R Nismo GT500 to the Super GT series, replacing the 350Z GT. This GT500 version featured a VK45DE 4.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine and a 6-speed sequential manual gearbox with rear-wheel-drive. The car made an immediate impact, winning seven of nine races and securing the drivers' championship in its debut season. Despite engine reliability issues in 2009 and a change to the VRH34A 3.4-litre engine in 2010, the GT-R achieved back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012 with Team Mola. Following a regulation change in 2014 that saw the V8 engine replaced by the NR20A 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, the GT-R Nismo GT500 secured championships in 2014 and 2015 with Team Nismo. The GT-R Nismo GT500 was retired from the series at the end of the 2021 season, holding records for most titles and race wins in Super GT/JGTC history, with a total of 41 race wins and 89 podium finishes from 113 starts.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 debuted in the Super GT GT300 class in 2012. It achieved its first win in the fourth round of the season and secured a record three championship doubles (drivers’ and teams’ titles) in 2015, 2020, and 2022 seasons. The car continues to compete actively through customer teams.
Debuting in 2009, the GT-R GT1 achieved notable success in the FIA GT1 World Championship. It claimed the 2010 RAC Tourist Trophy and secured the 2011 drivers’ championship with JR Motorsports before the series folded in 2012. The car featured the VK56DE, 5,552 cc naturally aspirated V8 engine. In its debut season in 2010, it achieved 2 race wins and 8 podium finishes. The 2011 season saw significant success, with the car winning 5 races, taking 3 pole positions, and achieving 18 podium finishes, culminating in the drivers' championship for Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 proved successful in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, winning GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup titles in 2013 and 2015. It achieved its first race win in 2013 at Silverstone, and the GT Academy team ultimately won the Pro-Am team's championship that year. In 2015, the car won a race, scored 2 pole positions, and 3 podiums.
In 2013, the GT-R Nismo GT3 debuted in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, finishing on the podium in every race it participated in. It finished 2nd in the team's championship and 5th in the driver's championship with 2 wins, 2 pole positions, and 10 podium finishes in its inaugural season.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 made its GT World Challenge Asia debut in 2018, achieving its maiden podium finish in the second round. It concluded its debut season with 2 race wins, 3 pole positions, fastest laps, and 11 podium finishes, finishing 2nd in the Pro-Am driver's championship.
Nissan officially announced its entry into the GT World Challenge America in 2015 with team AE Replay XD Nissan GT Academy. The car scored its first race win in the fourth round and achieved 7 consecutive podium finishes. Despite mid-season driver changes impacting championship potential, it finished 4th in the GT class driver's championship with 3 wins, a pole position, fastest lap, and 10 podium finishes.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 made its full season GT World Challenge Australia debut in 2021. It won its maiden race and finished on the podium in the opening round. The car dominated the final round with back-to-back race wins and pole positions, finishing 2nd in the final standings with 4 race wins, 3 pole positions, and 6 podium finishes.
In 2019, the GT-R Nismo GT3 competed in its first and only full season of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Team KCMG scored points in every race and set fastest laps in the Bathurst 12 Hour and California 8 Hours, finishing 6th in the manufacturer's championship.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 debuted in the British GT Championship in 2012, scoring its first race win in the fourth round. In 2018, RJN Motorsport won the Silver Cup championship with the car.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 is the most successful Group GT3 car in the Super Taikyu Series, having won 6 out of 12 full-season championships. It achieved its most dominant season in 2016, winning every race. The car won the championship in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 made its ADAC GT Masters full-season debut in 2015. In 2017, it won the Trophy class championship with Remo Lips.
The Bathurst 12 Hour has been a successful endurance race for the GT-R. The GT-R Nismo GT3 debuted in 2014 and won the race in 2015. In 2016, it finished 2nd, led the most laps, and set a record fastest lap.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 debuted in the Dubai 24 Hour in 2012. In 2015, it qualified on pole in Pro-Am class and finished 2nd in its class and 5th overall.
The car made its Nürburgring 24 Hours debut in 2013. In 2015, its best result was a 9th-place finish. The car also won races and scored podium finishes in the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
Both the GT-R Nismo GT500 and GT-R Nismo GT3 have raced in the Suzuka 1000 km. The GT-R Nismo GT500 was highly successful, with a 100 percent podium rate. The GT-R Nismo GT3 also scored podium finishes in the GT300 class. In 2015, the Gainer Tanax GT-R Nismo GT3 won the GT300 class.
The GT-R has competed in various other motorsport arenas. It achieved class wins at events like Targa Tasmania and Targa West. The car won the One Lap of America in 2009 and finished second in 2010. It also won the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour and the 2011 and 2012 24 Hours of Nürburgring races in the SP8T class. The GT-R has a renowned aftermarket tuning community, leading to record-setting performances in drag racing and international drifting events.
Succeeding the Skyline GT-R, the GT-R is recognized for its tuning capabilities, setting numerous speed records and victories in drag racing, time attacks, hill climbing, and drifting. Various aftermarket tuning parts have become available, and tuning houses have successfully modified the car's ECU. Companies like COBB Tuning and Ecutek have offered engine tuning and transmission control module modifications. Mine's has upgraded the VR38DETT engine, and AMS Performance and Extreme Turbo Systems are prominent tuners for drag cars in North America. The GT-R has also seen aftermarket ECUs developed to bypass speed limiters.
AMS Performance is known for the GT-R's drag racing success, setting record power levels and performance numbers. The Alpha Omega GT-R broke into the 7-second quarter-mile runs and set multiple world records at the WannaGoFast 1/2 Mile Shootout. In 2017, AMS Performance built the Alpha-G GT-R, the first to run a quarter-mile in 6 seconds. ETS (Extreme Turbo Systems) and Alpha Logic Performance have also set quarter-mile records. T1 Race's Nightfury GT-R holds the record for fastest stock location turbo GT-R.
Modified GT-R variations have participated in time attack challenges, notably the World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC). In 2015, HKS built the fastest time attack GT-R. In 2017, LYFE's GT-R broke HKS's records and won the WTAC. Precision Automotive Racing won the Flying 500 class title. The car also won the Super Lap Battle USA.
The GT-R has participated in hill climb competitions, including the Jaguar Simola Hill Climb in South Africa. In the 2019 season, a factory standard GT-R won the Top 10 Shootout event, becoming the fastest road-legal vehicle.
Masato Kawabata, driving a modified Toyo Tires Drift Trust Racing GT-R, won the 2015 D1 Grand Prix. Darren Kelly won the Pro-series championships of 2019 and 2021 D1NZ Drifting Championship seasons. In 2016, a heavily modified GT-R Nismo set the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Drift.
Gallery · 4 related images
