2012 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 race car
The iconic Japanese supercar has numerous Super GT and previous JGTC titles under its belt but all of these are from the series’ top-end GT500 class for vehicles with output capped at 500 horsepower.
Super GT also has a GT300 class for vehicles with outputs capped at 300 horsepower, and until now Nissan has happily campaigned a number of its other models in this class, most recently with its 370Z.
However, Nissan has today confirmed that it will enter its GT-R in the GT300 class for the first time, in addition to its regular GT500 participation. Nissan will be using its recently launched R35 GT-R Nismo GT3 race car, which made its competition debut just last month at the Dubai 24 Hours endurance race.
Unlike the GT500 version of the GT-R, which runs a naturally-aspirated 4.5-liter V-8, the GT300 version will stick with a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 engine though with output capped to regulated 300 horsepower through the use of air restrictors on its intake.
Nissan will field only one GT-R Nismo GT3 in the GT300 class of the 2012 Super GT season, with the car being run by the Nissan Driver Development Program team, which is headed by Masahiro Hasemi and includes up-and-coming drivers Yuhi Sekiguchi and Katsumasa Chiyo.
This year’s competition should be very exciting as Subaru has a new GT300 entrant in the form of its latest BRZ sports car.
