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Nissan GT-R sets first recorded time for the ‘world's greatest driving road’

Ralph Hanson

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1 1,513 views Mar 2, 2009

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The GT-R tackled the twisting Jebel Hafeet mountain pass in 3 minutes and 39 seconds

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The Nissan GT-R may be known for blistering times around the Nurburgring that seem to defy the laws of physics given the car's weight and power levels, but now the Japanese supercar has conquered a new stretch of tarmac - this time a mountain road in the Middle East that Nissan in no uncertain terms claims is the "world's greatest driving road".

Superlatives aside, the seven kilometer Jebel Hafeet road is found on the outskirts of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Rising approximately 4,000 ft (1,219 m) above sea level, the road features 22 corners and three lanes (two climbing and one descending). The road scales the mountain and ends at a scenic parking lot, passing a hotel and a palace on the way.

A timed run of the road was completed in the Nissan GT-R by Middle Eastern rally driver Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who also happens to be the vice-president of the FIA. The seven kilometer twisting mountain pass was done away with in just 3 minutes and 39 seconds, but as it is the first officially recorded time on the Jebel Hafeet road there isn't much competition to compare it to.

The run was done as part of a publicity stunt to increase interest in Nissan's halo car in the lucrative Middle East. The car is available in the Middle East through a number of 'Nissan High Performance Centers' designed especially for the company’s more performance oriented models.

Nissan GT-R in depth

Nissan GT-R tackles the Jebel Hafeet

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Comment (1)

I am the Doctor Posted: 3/3/2009 12:23am PST

I drove this road last time I was in Dubai. It's every bit as good as the critics make out, but I'm not sure I would classify it as the "world's greatest"

Surely there are better driving roads in Europe? The Stelvio pass comes to mind but I've never been...

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