Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT

Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT
If you haven't had the opportunity to check out the Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), or as it's now referred to, the Super GT series, you're missing out. Supras battle NSXs, Zs and Imprezas. Lamborghinis take on Ferraris, Porsches and GT-Rs.

There are two classes GT300, for vehicles producing 300 HP, and GT500 for vehicles that are making, you guessed it, 500 HP. Both groups attack the same course at the same time, which makes for some of the greatest wheel-to-wheel touring car action in the world. Back in December of 2004, GTLIVE convinced the organizers of the JGTC to head east for an exhibition run at California Speedway in order to gauge interest in the sport Stateside.

It was one Hell of a show, but at the end of the day, the sanctioning body of the JGTC didn't feel it was worth the effort to come back the following year. Follow the jump, for more on the V8-powerd NISMO 350Z, a pic of the engine and the full press release. We're really disappointed, now that we know that NISMO, Nissan's motorsports arm and one of the dominant teams in the JGTC Super GT series, has equipped their Z33 (Fairlady Z/350Z) with a 4.5-liter V8. The old turbo'd 3.5-liter mill was nixed to gain an advantage over a field of competitors that have made significant improvements over the past three years (the NISMO team has set the bar, winning two championships in three years).

There isn't too much information about the car, as the team has to keep much of their data under wraps, but judging by the sinister look of the new Z, they've come a long way in both aerodynamic enhancements and weight reduction. Five of these worked over Zs will compete in this year's series (starting in just over a month) and will be campaigned by HASEMI Motor Sport, Team Impul and Kondo Racing, with the remaining two being used by the NISMO team itself. However, all the teams will benefit from factory backing.

Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT
Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT

Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT
Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT

Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT
Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT

Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT
Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT

Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT
Nissan brings V8-power to Super GT

Car News, Car Review, Future, Auto, New Cars, Car Quote, Price