Following the conclusion of the GT1 World Championship's viability for the GT-R GT1, Nissan and JR Motorsports developed a GT3 variant of the GT-R. The car was designed to conform strictly to FIA Group GT3 regulations. Sales and services were established through Nissan in Japan, Asia, and North America, and by JR Motorsports in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. Nissan was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to sell a Group GT3 race car. The design focused on providing a competitive platform for both manufacturer-supported and independent customer entries.
The GT-R GT3 is powered by a VR38DETT 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine. In its initial 2012 configuration, it produced 390 kW (530 PS), which was increased to 405 kW (551 PS) in 2013 through revised camshaft timing. The drivetrain utilizes a Ricardo six-speed sequential transmission delivering power to the rear wheels.
The chassis underwent several major iterative updates:
2016 Update: Focused on weight distribution and braking, moving the starter motor to the rear transaxle and adopting larger AP Racing brake components. Aerodynamic efficiency was improved via wind tunnel testing of the bumpers and diffuser.
2018 Update: Introduced a road-car facelift and lowered the center of gravity by moving the engine 150 mm (5.9 in) backward and downward. The rear suspension was replaced with a double-wishbone system, and the car achieved a 15 kg weight reduction.
GT-R Nismo GT3 Evo: A 2020 revision featuring a Power Distribution Module (PDM) and upgraded ABS and Traction Control systems.
The GT-R GT3 has maintained a prolific career across multiple continents:
Super GT (GT300): The car debuted in 2012 and secured its first championship in 2015 with team Gainer No.10. Kondo Racing later secured titles in 2020 and 2022. By 2024, the car faced challenges with Balance of Performance (BoP) limitations, leading to concerns regarding the performance gap between GT3 and GTA-GT300 entries.
GT World Challenge Europe: Competing in the Endurance Cup, GT Academy won the Pro-Am team's championship in 2013. In 2015, the car won the drivers' championship for Alex Buncombe, Katsumasa Chiyo, and Wolfgang Reip. In the Sprint Cup, it secured second in the 2013 Pro-Am team standings.
Super Taikyu Series: This is the car's most successful arena, where it has won six championships between 2012 and 2023. The 2016 season was the most dominant for the car, as it won every race of the season to finish 1–2–3 in the final standings, with Kondo Racing taking the championship.
Endurance Events: The car won the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour with drivers Florian Strauss, Katsumasa Chiyo, and Wolfgang Reip. The car qualified 3rd and won the race after an intensive battle in the final 20 minutes. It has also secured class victories at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (SP8T class in 2011 and 2012) and podiums at the Dubai 24 Hour.
Other Series: The chassis has claimed titles in the British GT Silver Cup (2018) and the ADAC GT Masters Trophy class (2017).
In the Super GT GT300 class, the car's historical success led to significant Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments. During the 2024 season, driver João Paulo de Oliveira claimed the team was being targeted by BoP regulations due to their 2020 and 2022 titles. These limitations resulted in the car finishing outside the points in four races for the first time in the series' history. Consequently, in 2025, the team limited themselves to consistent point finishes in order to maintain favorable BoP adjustments for title contention.
The GT-R GT3 established Nissan's customer racing infrastructure, with sales and technical support handled by Nismo in Asia and JR Motorsports in Europe. Although Nissan officially withdrew as a manufacturer from international GT3 racing at the end of 2017 to focus on Formula E, the chassis remains active through customer programs. The car is currently FIA homologated for competitive use until the end of 2030.
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