Did Nissan Cheat GT-R for Nurburgring Record?

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Pistonheads (PH) reveals that the Nissan GT-R that pushed aside Porsche's Nurburgring record is not– as previously reported— a current production car. Nissan's 'ring-er was a modified Japanese GT-R: a better-handling version GT-R that's headed for the U.S. and European markets. Allegedly. More specifically, PH says the record holder had a "number of tweaks that are intended for its European launch… Nissan is understood to be including three harder engine mounts and a stiffer transaxle mount for the US version, resulting in an even finer tuned suspension and powertrain. The European GT-R will be enhanced further with a recalibrated rear diff and slightly revised steering, although this will be signed off in September." Bottom line: it's unclear if the GT-R that lapped the Green Hell in 7:29 is/will be the exact same car that will go on sale… anywhere. Not that TTAC GT-R reviewer Stephan Wilkinson could give a shit.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Gawdodirt Gawdodirt on May 07, 2008

    "Supposedly" going to get. As the article states, it hasn't been bought off on yet. So it might be the same. But really, who cares? Anything foreign is always better than anything from here, right?

  • John R John R on May 07, 2008

    @DetroitIronUAW LOL, "properganda". Shine on you crazy diamond...

  • Kman Kman on May 08, 2008

    It might be a huge issue. Other than Nissan's drivers, there is a German mag (can't recall which) that lapped the GT-R in 7:50... a far cry from supercardom. But this was a while back, and may have been a pre-production model. All this to say is, we need third-party confirmation from somewhere. Take a GT-R off the showroom floor, lap it.

  • L'avventura L'avventura on May 08, 2008

    >>Other than Nissan’s drivers, there is a German mag (can’t recall which) that lapped the GT-R in 7:50… a far cry from supercardom

    You’re probably talking about the lap Horst von Saurma did on a wet track. Same driver couldn’t do much better in a CSL or GT2 on a dry track.

    Beyond that, all German magazines are written by the Hitler Youth. Don’t expect a non-german car to get any accolades above their domestic models.

    Hell, nobodies come close to getting the 7min 42s lap Jan Magnussen in the Z06, or the 7min 32s lap time Walter Röhrl did in the GT2 in their respective vehicles. But then Walter Röhrl was a former WRC driver and Jan Magnussen was a former F1 driver. The GT-R driver is some nobody test driver. Fact is, itts ALL marketing propaganda.

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