Nissan returns to Spa 24 hour with GT-R

By Matt Brogan | July 23rd, 2009

After a 17 year absence Nissan will be back at the Spa 24 hour race this coming weekend with its iconic GT-R.

The last time Nissan entered the legendary race was in 1991 when it entered an R32 Skyline GT-R Group A car.

Nissan has completed over 10,000 kilometres of testing in the lead up to the event and says it is now fully prepared for its biggest challenge of the current season.

The new car’s outings in the European-based GT championship are a precursor to a full assault on the series next season.

Its recent entry at the Oschersleben (Germany) FIA GT event was a good simulation for the Spa 24 Hours and its notoriously changeable weather, the car showing a great deal of potential in the tricky conditions.

Equally impressive for the Belgian event is the driver lineup, with Nissan stalwart Michael Krumm (Germany) partnering endurance specialist Darren Turner (UK) and ex-F1 driver Anthony Davidson (UK) in the GT machine.

Belgium’s Circuit de Spa Francorchamps is one of Europe’s most venerable racetracks, with a history to match. The Spa 24 Hours was first run just one year after the famous Le Mans 24 Hours got its start, back in 1924.

Howie-R31

I hope that GTR is on GT5 when it comes out!
Yanzo

this maybe be irrelivant but top gear season 13 episode 5 “the news”

jeremy:
so here i have a speeding ticket from california. car type. bugatti 2 door, i’m guessing it’s the veyron. speed limit, 65. speed traveling, 210 mph. and it’s only a $500 fine. get caught again, $750 fine.

so why the crap are our road rules so tight @ss?

got to streetfire.com to watch the video. no secrets held
http://www.AUSringers.com Liam

Yanzo, that ticket was a fake, haha. Top Gear got sucked in.
http://Caradvice.com.au Baddass

I love the fattened wheelarches. Fits it out I reckon.
Reckless1

This car is so much faster around the ‘Ring than anything else, it will finish the 24 hour race in 22 hours.
ElecEng

Isn’t the 24hrs races require the cars to be RWD only? Even the Murchielago had to be RWD…

If that’s correct, I wonder how the GTR can have its dominance without it’s brilliant AWD system?
MrQuick

ElecEng, yeah your’e right, FIA GT1 championship regs say that all car must be RWD, so this GTR is RWD.

There isn’t any forced induction allowed in the championship either, so i think it is going to run the same engine from the SUPER GT car, 4.5L V8, or it might by 5.5L, not too sure, though it is definitely a V8.

I also remember someone telling me that this isn’t actaully competing for the championship.
http://carz.com/ Carz

Stunning GTR! Sounds like a winner…Now that it’s representing Nissan, I’m sure competitors are apprehensive.