Inside The Nissan Heritage Car Collection (Part 3) - Nissan's Magic Kingdom

Modifying a Super Taikyu-spec GT-R for endurance racing (power increased to 500 ps, over-fenders to accommodate wider tires, and lighter carbon hood, doors, and trunk), Falken Tire entered the 2002 24 Hours Nurburgring endurance race with its 25 km of forest road in an R34 similar to the one in the picture. The last time a GT-R entered was in 1999, where an R33 finished Sixth overall, the furthest a Japanese make has made it. Despite a nudge from another car that sent the Falken R34 into a spin, popping its left-rear tire, the GT-R managed to finish Fifth, bumping the best overall standing from a Japanese car a notch higher.

An S14 purpose-built for something other than drift? Thanks to JGTC splitting their series into two engine classes, GT500 and GT300 (the numbers designating the hp limit), OE flagship models such as the Supra, NSX, and GT-R were reserved for the "higher" GT500 class, while smaller makes like the MR2, M3, and Silvia were commissioned for GT300 duty. While this is a replica of the Xanavi S14, the original was SR20DET-powered and was driven by M. Kondo and T. Aoki and competed rather unsuccessfully. However, we should note the previous year, an S14 piloted by M. Orido (sound familiar?) and H. Fukuyama became the 1997 JGTC GT300 class Champion.

Where the previous S14 didn't succeed in JGTC in '98, this R33 did, with the E. Comas/M. Kageyama duo taking the GT500 class Driver's Championship and giving the NISMO works crew a Team Championship. After missing the title in '96 and '97, the 1,200kg R33 attacked the season with an engine sitting lower and further back, thereby improving its center of gravity. The engine was an improved version of the RB26DETT used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans-spec R33 GT-R LM, with more power and torque thanks to a bump in displacement to 2,708cc.

E. Comas, the winning driver from the previous year, partnered with S. Motoyama in the all-new GT500 R34. In a stronger and more compact chassis with improved aero, NISMO converted the R34 from AWD to RWD. Ultra stable, Comas would go on to win his second Driver's title, a first in JGTC.

Nissan entered its third season of JGTC in '03 with three R34s. With regulation changes, the GT-Rs were revised with the front and rear chassis fitted with pipe frame, wider tires thanks to an expanded front fender section, and a rear-mounted transaxle that improved balance significantly. S. Motoyama and M. Krumm in the #23 Xanavi machine didn't win any races, but after a consistent season with eight starts and four podiums, took the Driver's title, giving NISMO its third Team title. With R34 sales having ended the previous year, Nissan would switch to a Z33 the following season.

After a debut year ending with the Z taking both the Driver's and Team titles, S. Motoyama and R. Lyons returned in the #1 Z33 with improved aero, balance, and grip. Powered by tuned VQ30DETTs, the #1 Z33 would compete alongside a #22 Z in a tumultuous season. Although the Motoyama/Lyons team would not add a third Driver's title, both Zs did take home the Team titles.