Regular readers will by now be well aware that the Nissan R35 GT-R is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the motorsport of tarmac rallying. In tarmac-rally mad Australia the Nissan GT-R has had twovictories in a matter of months and finished in top places in other instances.
As drivers get more time behind their respective wheels we expect to see this become the rule and not an exception.
Steve Millen has announced that his company STILLEN are right now putting together their own Nissan R35 GT-R to contest the Targa New Foundland in Canada later in the year. The GT-R has begun undergoing race preparations already in the interests of fielding a fully developed car.
Plans consist of stripping the car out, improving the brakes, tuning, tweaking the intake and exhaust and improving the suspension. Hopefully a new tire choice will be added to this list of ToDos.
They’ve already begun stripping the car and have posted a blog update about it. Check their website at the link below to learn more.
Megan Racing is working with SpeedForSale on the launch of their new coilover kit for the Nissan GT-R. These fully adjustable coilovers replace the OEM suspension and offer 32 levels of damper adjustment and easy to use height adjustment. Spring rates on these are 12kg at the front and 10kg in the rear.
From all accounts these Megan Racing Street coilovers are a cost effective alternative in terms of replacement full coilover sets. During the pre-order period the cost for the entire set is just $999. Regular price is $1050. Thats a fraction of the cost we’ve seen other kits going for so far.
For more information or to order these check the link below.
SuperGT Series 2009 kicks off in under a month when the lights go green for round #1 on Sunday the 22nd of March 2009. NISMO has officially announced the number of teams entered this year as well as the drivers and specifications of the 2009 version of the GT500 Nissan R35 GT-R race cars.
First up, there will be just four Nissan GT-R teams in SuperGT GT500 class racing this year, a reduction by one due to Nissan’s commitments to the FIA GT1 racing class to which ex-Motul Autech driver Michael Krumm has moved. This leaves the teams and drivers as follows:
#3 Name TBA GT-R (team Hasemi MotorSports) driven by Ronnie Quintarelli / Hironobu Yasuda
#12 Calsonic IMPUL GT-R (team IMPUL Racing) driven by Tsugio Matsuda / Sebastien Philippe
#24 HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R (team Kondo Racing) driven by Joao Paulo de Oliveira / Seiji Ara
As for the car specification, this year GTA regulations change to say that the GT-R must produce less downforce which is achieve by way of a shorter overhang. There’s an update to the cooling system by way of modified exit vents as well as new paddle shifters for the 6 speed sequential racing transmission. The engine remains the VK45DE V8.
Race 1 for SuperGT 2009 is the Okayama 300km race at Okayama International Circuit on the 22nd of March. The 3.7km long track will also provide pre-race test facilities to teams on 7th and 8th of March.
Prior to this we expect to have an unveiling of the 2009 GT500 GT-Rs in their race livery so stay tuned to GTRBlog for the updates.
The photos shown here are of the #1 Motul Autech 2009 GT500 GT-R in final body shape minus final paint and graphics.
One of the stars of Tokyo AutoSalon earlier this year was Power Enterprise with their outrageous range of GT-R tuning parts. Throwing the book away they took the twin charging concept and unleashed it on the GT-R twice to come up with the Power Enterprise Four Charger Nissan GT-R with two turbos and two superchargers.
Development has continued since then and now, for those of us ready to shop we have pricing on some of their gear. Without further ado here it is:
Power Enterprise Titanium Muffler: 466,000 yen
Power Enterprise Silicon Hose Kit: 158,000 yen
Power Enterprise Air Impulse II Kit: 52,000 yen
Power Enterprise Air Impulse II Carbon Cover Kit: 47,600 yen
Power Enterprise Air Impulse II & Carbon Cover Kit: 95,000 yen
For those interested in tuned kits put together to meet a certain power goal, Power Enterprise also released the 530R, 560R and 600R kits to meet 530ps, 560ps and 600ps goals respectively. The contents of the kits and pricing follows:
530R Kit: Featuring a tuned P-Map BB device, this kit costs 157,000 yen and nets you a 10% power increase with a 16% midrange torque increase with no additional modifications.
560R Kit: Adding on to the 530R kit, the 560R kit gets you the Air Impulse II plus carbon cover kit and the Silicon Intake Piping kit. The result is a 16% power gain and a 23% midrange torque improvement. This kit costs 367,500 yen
600R Kit: Last but not least, the 600R kit adds again to the 560R kit with the Super Sonic Titanium muffler and the Power Enterprise upgraded wastegate actuators. Gains are 25% more power over standard and 28% more torque. Cost is 997,500 yen.
After recent spyshots surfaced of the carbon bodied FIA GT1 specification Nissan R35 GT-R testing it seemed to be a forgone conclusion that Nissan would be making a return to FIA GT racing soon. Well today we have received official confirmation from Nissan via Nissan Motors Australia Managing Director and CEO Dan Thompson at the press day of the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show.
Official word is that Nissan will be entering the R35 Nissan GT-R into the FIA GT 2010 Championship series while British company Gigawave MotorSports will be teaming up with NISMO on an non-championship additional entry into four of the 2009 season’s races in order to check and help develop the car.
Driving the NISMO/Gigawave MotorSports car is most likely Michael Krumm of NISMO SuperGT team fame and Darren Turner from Gigawave.
Video of the official announcement from this morning’s opening of the 2009 Melbourne Motorshow is below.
