The GT-R Nismo GT3 was developed after the FIA GT1 World Championship — the competitive home of the GT-R GT1 — folded at the end of 2011, when GT1-class cars were replaced by GT3 machinery. Nismo and JR Motorsports jointly began development following several testing sessions and three competitive outings before the car was ready for customer sale.
The initial specification used the production VR38DETT twin-turbocharged engine, producing 390 kW (530 PS; 523 hp) at 6,400 rpm, paired with a Ricardo six-speed sequential transmission driving the rear wheels. An adjustable suspension setup was fitted and the chassis re-tuned for competition. Sales and service were provided by Nissan in Japan, Asia, and North America, and by JR Motorsports in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.
A 2013 update raised engine output to 405 kW (551 PS; 543 hp) at 6,500 rpm through new camshaft timing and reinforced engine parts, with revised gear ratios and added front canards plus a repositioned rear wing for increased downforce. A 2016 update introduced a new brake system with larger AP Racing rotors, calipers, and master cylinders; improved weight distribution; and revised aerodynamic components tested in the wind tunnel. A 2018 update moved the engine backward and lowered it by 150 mm via a thin oil pan, lowering the entire drivetrain and driver position to reduce the centre of gravity; the rear suspension was changed to a double-wishbone configuration; and an optional air-conditioning system was offered. This revision reduced weight by approximately 15 kg and was designated the “GT-R Nismo GT3 Evo.” Minor upgrades in 2020 added repositioned cockpit switches, a Power Distribution Module (PDM), and upgraded ABS and TCS systems.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 made its Super GT debut in 2012 at Okayama International Circuit, with drivers Katsumasa Chiyo and Yuhi Sekiguchi. It won its first race in the fourth round of the season at Sportsland Sugo and scored a podium finish the following round at Suzuka. Difficult seasons followed in 2013 and 2014, the car failing to score a podium in 2013.
The breakthrough came in 2015 when team Gainer No. 10, driven by André Couto, won the GT300 championship with two race wins and four podium finishes. Including results from team NDDP Racing, the car accumulated four race wins and seven podium finishes across the season — its first Super GT GT300 championship double in drivers’ and teams’ titles.
Kondo Racing with drivers Kiyoto Fujinami and João Paulo de Oliveira won the 2020 GT300 championship with two race wins and three podium finishes. The same duo repeated in 2022, giving the car its third Super GT GT300 championship double. In 2024, Balance of Performance (BoP) limitations severely hampered the car’s pace; it finished four races outside the points for the first time in Super GT history, with GTA-GT300 cars taking all top-three positions in the final standings. De Oliveira stated his team was being targeted by BoP regulations due to recent championship success. In 2025 the car finished second in both the drivers’ and teams’ standings — the latter tied on points with the champions K2 R&D LEON Racing — carrying the highest success ballast among the title contenders throughout the final rounds.
On February 27, 2009, Nismo announced a partnership with British team Gigawave Motorsports for the FIA GT1 World Championship. The GT-R GT1 was built exclusively for the series with a VK56DE naturally aspirated V8 of 5,552 cc, driving the rear wheels through a Ricardo sequential transmission. In 2009, with driver Michael Krumm, Anthony Davidson, and Darren Turner, the car finished third in class at the 24 Hours of Spa but was not eligible for championship points as a factory entry.
In 2010, team Sumo Power GT entered two cars with drivers Krumm, Peter Dumbreck, Jamie Campbell-Walter, and Warren Hughes; Swiss Racing Team entered two further cars. The car took its first race win in the second round, with the Sumo Power GT No. 22 car driven by Campbell-Walter and Hughes. It concluded the season with two race wins and eight podium finishes.
The 2011 season saw JR Motorsports operate two cars alongside four Sumo Power GT entries. JR Motorsports dominated the third round with a 1–2–3 finish for the GT-R GT1. Krumm and Lucas Luhr clinched the 2011 FIA GT1 drivers’ championship in the final round at San Luis, finishing 17 points clear. JR Motorsports were second in the teams’ championship; Sumo Power GT fifth. The car finished 2011 with five race wins, three pole positions, and 18 podium finishes. In 2012, GT1 cars were replaced by GT3 machinery and Nissan did not return.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 made its GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (known as the Blancpain Endurance Series at the time) debut in 2011 at Magny-Cours, not in championship contention. 2013 was its first full season; driven by Lucas Ordóñez, Peter Pyzera, and Alex Buncombe under the GT Academy banner, the car won the Pro-Am class at Silverstone and took the championship lead after a double podium at Paul Ricard. GT Academy ultimately won the Pro-Am team championship at the final round at Nürburgring by beating the Ferrari works team AF Corse. Ordóñez won the Pro-Am drivers’ championship.
In 2015, the car competed in both Pro and Pro-Am classes. Starting from second at Paul Ricard, it won the race outright. Buncombe, Chiyo, and Wolfgang Reip won the drivers’ championship at the final round at Nürburgring, qualifying second and finishing third. Nissan and Nismo withdrew from the championship at the end of 2017 due to their interest in Formula E, with a customer team (GT Sport) carrying the car in 2018–2019.
In 2015, Nissan officially announced entry into the GT World Challenge America (then the Pirelli World Challenge) with team AE Replay XD Nissan GT Academy. The car took its first race win at Birmingham and went on to record seven consecutive podium finishes, including a win at Road America and a fastest lap at Ohio. It finished fourth in the GT class drivers’ championship with three wins, a pole position, a fastest lap, and ten podium finishes.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 is the most successful Group GT3 car in the Super Taikyu Series, having won six of twelve possible full-season championships. After a debut in 2012 and first race win at Okayama driven by Fuji, Gamisan, and Chiyo, the car entered a dominant era from 2014 to 2017. Team GTNET won the 2014 championship; Endless Sports won in 2015; Kondo Racing won in 2016 — the car’s most dominant year, winning every race in the season for a 1–2–3 finish in the standings. GTNET won again in 2018 and 2019. HELM Motorsports won the 2022 championship by 7.5 points over a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
The GT-R Nismo GT3’s best result at the Bathurst 12 Hour came in 2015 when drivers Strauss, Chiyo, and Reip qualified third and charged from third to first on the penultimate lap to win after an intensive final 20 minutes. In 2016, starting from a disappointing thirteenth, the car finished second behind the race-winning McLaren 650S GT3 of Tekno Autosports, leading 107 of 297 laps and setting a record fastest lap.
The GT-R Nismo GT3 made its British GT Championship debut in 2012 with team RJN Motorsport, drivers Alex Buncombe and Jann Mardenborough. It scored its first British GT win at Brands Hatch starting from tenth on the grid. In 2018 — the first and only full-season British GT campaign — RJN Motorsport competed in the Silver Cup class, with Straun Moore winning the championship.
In 2017, scoring multiple Trophy class wins, the car won the ADAC GT Masters Trophy class championship with Remo Lips. It was the last season of the car’s participation in the championship.
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