Nissan Poised to Return to GT Racing
New Z355GT derives its genes from 350Z
Nissan isn't waiting for someone to tune the spectacular 350Z into a race car.
Challenging its' engineers to develop a ready-to-race machine produced the Nissan Z33GT with the intention of making it available to privateer racers worldwide. The concept GT vehicle on which the Z33GT was based on was unveiled last year in Japan alongside the 350Z, which is now the best selling sports sedan in Japan and the United States.
The lean 2420 lbs. machine is expected to make a huge splash at the 24-Hours Le Mans this year. It will battle on the tarmac with the mighty Porsche 995 GT3R and may also see action at the American Le Mans Series and the Grand Am Cup or the Rolex Sports Car series.
If the planned volume production of the Z33GT pushes through, the vehicle would cost around US$250,000 (approximately PhP 13,500,000 without tax and freight).
Road and Track International Editor Sam Mituni reports that the "Z33GT is a serious machine, with all the racing essentials in place, including a rollcage, heavy-duty brakes and a giant carbon-fiber rear wing. The engine has been bored to 3.6 liters, resulting in a huge bump in horsepower."
The modified power plant, based on the QR-series engine that powers the Nissan X-TRAIL is expected to crank out 450 horsepower. Its stiffened chassis, low aspect ratio wheels and aerodynamic package makes it a formidable competitor against the European makes currently lording over the GT races worldwide.
Nissan has had an impressive showing in racing circuits around the world with its race-modified vehicles including the Skyline GT, which ruled the JTCC for many years. The company chalked up convincing victories in the 1997 Le Mans series with the R390 GT1. With hard financial times gripping the company in 1997, it had no choice but to pull the plug on almost all of its racing programs. But now that its fortunes have turned, Nissan is ready for the offensive.
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