2012 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 race car
Today, a JRM Racing-sponsored version has been revealed as the latest challenger to enter the Dubai 24 Hours endurance race taking place on January 12 and running through January 14.
JRM Racing is partnering with Nismo, Nissan’s official motorsports division, and will race as the official Nissan Europe at next week’s event.
Driving the car will be a lineup of champions including FIA GT1 world champion Michael Krumm, Blancpain Endurance Series and GT4 champion Alex Buncombe, LMP2 Le Mans Series champion Tom Kimber-Smith, and LMP2 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup champion Franck Mailleux.
Of all four Nissan drivers scheduled to take part in the race at the Dubai Autodrome, Alex Buncombe is the only one who has driven the GT3 GT-R previously, when he contested a round of the British GT Championship at Donington Park in September. Significantly, it will be the first outing in the car for Michael Krumm, though he recorded his GT1 world championship last year at the wheel of JRM Racing’s Nissan GT-R GT1 racer.
Tom Kimber-Smith and Franck Mailleux will also be driving the GT3 GT-R for the first time. And, although both are used to contesting endurance races, their championship victories were achieved in Nissan-powered LMP2 prototypes so piloting the GT3 GT-R will be a new experience for them also.
Interestingly, there will be several other noticeable Nissans on the track at the upcoming Dubai 24 Hours race. The one-off Nissan Juke-R Concept will be used to pace the event and GT Academy winner Bryan Heitkotter will be piloting a Nissan 370Z in the event.
The 2012 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 race car itself is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 found in the road car, though actual output figures are well above 500 horsepower. The race car is also fitted with a Hewland six-speed sequential transmission with paddle shifters and a Sachs four-plate sintered clutch.
Overall weight is less than 2,900 pounds, and the racer has also been fitted with uprated Brembo brakes, RAYS forged wheels, and Ohlins TTX suspension with adjustable blade anti-roll bars.
