Piloted by Nissan’s first GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez in the SP8T class, together with Kazunori Yamauchi, Yasukichi Yamamoto and Tobias Schulze, the production GT-R not only finished the notoriously difficult race with amazing pace but with impeccable reliability too.
Nissan was out to test the reliability and durability of the GT-R, in particular its engine, transmission and suspension, which the car’s chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno previously explained will help engineers fine tune the car over the remainder of its life.
A second GT-R driven by Michael Krumm, Toshio Suzuki, Kazuki Hoshino and Tetsuya Tanaka finished 99th overall and second in the same SP8T class.
While the pair of GT-Rs used in the Nürburgring 24 Hours were production models, they were race-ready Club Track Editions that come equipped with a stripped-out interior, some minor aero mods and a full roll cage. Their engines, transmissions and suspension, however, were all completely stock.
Speaking at the conclusion of the race, Ordonez said, “I have learnt a lot this weekend and I have a new respect for the GT-R and this amazing race track.”
Krumm added, “It is so fast for a road car, up to the pace of the GT3 cars. The performance is good and it was a lot of fun and very exciting to drive.”
The overall winner of this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours was an Audi Sport Team Phoenix-backed R8 LMS ultra GT3 race car piloted by Marc Basseng, Christopher Haase, Frank Stippler and Markus Winkelhock.