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 GT-R
Motorsport History 1963-2003
| 1963 - 1964 Prologue ... 2nd Japan Grand Prix and the Skyline 2000GT |
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In 1963, at the 1st Japan Grand Prix - Japan's first modern car race, held at the Suzuka
Circuit - Prince suffered an unexpected and bitter defeat. It had been abiding honestly by a
mutual agreement to voluntarily refrain from racing activities, but it was outmaneuvered by
rival manufacturers, who has focused on enhancing user support. As a result, Prince's results
were nothing short of abysmal.
Prompted by its sales companies, the entire company then focused on developing a new model for
the 2nd Japan GP. On May 1, two days before the race, the Skyline 2000GT (S54) was launched. This
model had a longer nose than the 1500 and was powered by Gloria's 6-cylinder, 1,988cc
(Weber triple-carb) engine, so it was necessary to work round the clock to produce the 100-unit
minimum required for GT approval in time for the race.
The Skyline took places 2 through 6, but the trophy was lost to a late-entry Porsche 904, so
once again Prince suffered defeat. However, the story of how the 2000GT had put up a brave fight
against a Porsche soon spread around the country and the "Skyline legend" was born. |
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| 1969 - 1972 Skyline 2000GT és GT-R's 50 wins |
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So successful was the GT-R that people said "Skyline's only rival is Skyline." This
vehicle's momentous record of 50 victories over in a period of 2 years and 10 months will
never be forgotten in the history of Japanese racing.
The first win came on May 3, 1969, at the TS-b race of the 1969 JAF Grand Prix at Fuji
Speedway. That was the 4-door model. From the 1969 Japan Grand Prix in October of the same
year, at which the GT-R chalked up its 7th victory, a fuel injection system was adopted.
Pushing maximum output to 230PS/8,400rpm, this gave the Skyline an even greater edge on the circuit.
It was two years later, at the All Japan Suzuka Automobile Race (March 1971) that the
hardtop GT-R was added to the formation. Attracting nationwide attention, the GT-R's string
of consecutive wins stopped at 49 (with 29 consecutive wins for the works team). But the 50th
victory was achieved at the very next race.
The historic 50th victory came on March 20, 1972, in the first round of the Fuji GC Series
- the Fuji 300km Speed Race. Because of strong winds and rain, the race had been shortened
from 20 laps to 12. Raising clouds of spray, car No. 15, a GT-R driven by K. Takahashi, took
the checkered flag and simultaneously made history.
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| 1966 - 1993 Skyline GT-Rs win every JTCC race |
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The All Japan Championships started in 1966, but the one that has consistently enjoyed
high popularity is the Japan Touring Car Championship (JTCC), at which both the first- and
second-generation Skyline GT-R chalked up an extraordinary record of victories.
The debut for the second-generation GT-R (R32) was the opening race at the All Japan
Championship of March 1990, the All Japan Touring Car 300km Race (Nishi-Nippon Circuit
("MINE Circuit" at present)). This event was won by K. Hoshino and Toshio Suzuki (Calsonic),
but also driving GT-Rs in this series, to the delight of the crowds, were Masahiro Hasemi
(UNISIA JECS), K. Takahashi (Advan), and K. Tohira (Zexel).
At the time, the category for the All Japan Touring Car Championship was Group A, and in all
29 races of the four series held from 1990 to 1993, the R32 GT-R reigned supreme as the
undisputed champion. It was victorious too at the final Group A championship race in 1993,
bringing this chapter in the GT-R’s history to a glorious conclusion (from 1994 Group A was
replaced by the Super Touring Car). |
| 1993 |
| The GT-R run 1993 in N3-spec, using a 410kW RB26DETT, five speed H-gate manual, 1170kg
kerb weight and 18x11inch wheels. It took thre wins from as many starts in the hands of Masahiko
Kageyama to take the silverware, Godzilla reputation intact.
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| 1994 |
| Group A to All Japan Grand Touring Championship(JGTC). GT-spec cars were RWD only, with 336kW
and six-speed X-TRAC sequentian gearboxes, although some competitors still ran Group A AWD gear.
Masahiko Kageyawa's four wheel drive N1 version took the year's title.
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| 1995 |
| The larger R33 GT-Rs debuted, marking the first true JGTC formula RWD platform with multi-link
doublewishbone suspension. Although JUN had an SR powered R32, most teams continued with the
RB26DETT. Kageyama took the crown again and wheels were fattened up to 18x12in (front) and
18x12.75in (rear).
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| 1996 |
| Dry sump lubrication was added to the 1996 GT-Rs and rooflines dropped 200mm. Togeather with the new
GT500(500PS) and GT300(300PS) class split, power was increased to 365kW in the big-gun GT-Rs, while
torque jumped to 687Nm despite much larger intake restrictions. Wheels, tyres and track were also upped
to cope with new oomph.
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| 1997 |
| Specification remained largely the same in '97 but the Skyline's body was evolving more aggressive stance.
A new concave rear wing, sideskerts and more carbon fibre were being used. Body and chassis rigidly were
refined as was turbo response, thanks largely to sophisticated anti-lag systems.
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| 1998 |
| Power jumped to 373kW (500hp) with 706Nm of torque. The RB engine's capacity rose to 2708cc,
while both engine and transmission were lowered 50mm to improbe weight distribution and
centre of gravity. The GT/R snatched two vistorias and claimed the team title for the ZEXEL-WISE
stable.
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| 1999 |
| The R34-series debuted in its final BNR incarnation. Its broder shape improved aerodynamics by 20
per cent and increased chassis stiffness. Weight was a mer 1200kg. Engine development fosused on
better driveability. Whelbase was shorter than the R33's but also had less overhang, improving
cornering ability.
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| 2000 |
| Driver aids (ABS,etc.) were banned, so minimum weight dropped by 100kg to 1100kb and wider 13in
whels were introduced. Refinements to the aero kit addaed extra downforce with a new wing and undertry
design. The Nismo Loctite GT/R took the championship honours.
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| 2001 |
| Flatter carbon-fibre undertarys were employed on the cars for the '01 season, reducing drag and
further improving downforce. Twin IHI turbos were introduced whine the 5.5in carbon triple-plate
clutch was refined for increased top speed.
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| 2002 |
| As the road going R34 GT-R ended production, JGTC retained the body shape but
switched to the VQ30DETT vee-six, which caused a few reliability headeches, but
ultimately produced more power. Despite better weight distribution and packaging, it took
almost all season to iron out simple bugs, that cost race wins.
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| 2003 |
| XANAVI Nismo took team and driver championships. Major structural changes were made to the
tubular frame. Front-end architecture and fender design were retouched. The last major change?
An advanced mid-mounted transaxle-style sequential gearbox,for better weight spread. GT-R's final
Japanese race was at Fuji Raceway on October 16.
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