Super GT
Nissan faster than expected in SUPER GT manufacturer testing
Nissan has revealed its performances so far in pre-season SUPER GT manufacturer testing with its new Z GT500 challenger have exceeded its own expectations.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Feb 27, 2022, 3:59 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Yokohama marque has introduced the new Z for the 2022 campaign, replacing the R35-generation GT-R that had raced in various guises since the 2008 season.
Since launching the car late last year, Nissan has been busy putting the Z through its paces in several private manufacturer tests.
Its cars dominated the timesheets during a two-day test at Suzuka in January, albeit with limited representation from rivals Honda and Toyota, and has conducted further running this month at Fuji Speedway and Motegi.
Read Also:
Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, NISMO COO Motohiro Matsumura was reluctant to say whether Nissan may hold an early edge over its GT500 opposition, but did reveal that the Z had exceeded the manufacturer’s own internal performance estimates.
“At this moment it’s difficult to say as we’ve only had very limited testing, so I can’t say we are obviously at an advantage or disadvantage,” Matsumura said. “But one of the good points is that the laptime we recorded is better than we estimated.
“I can’t speak about our [relative] competitiveness against our rivals, but we are ahead of the laptimes we estimated at Suzuka and Motegi, so we have made good progress.”
The Z, based on the new road car that was revealed last year, features a radically different look compared to its predecessor, featuring a much lower and sleeker shape ostensibly aimed at reducing drag – a key weakness of the SUPER GT 2020-spec GT-R.
Indeed, the GT-R notably struggled against Honda and Toyota at Fuji following SUPER GT’s full adoption of Class One regulations in 2020, with Ronnie Quintarelli saying he hoped the new car would allow Nissan to be competitive at the track once again.
Read Also:
But Matsumura was keen to point out that Nissan hasn’t simply sacrificed downforce to produce a low-drag car, instead aiming to create a car that works well at every track.
“It’s not just about correcting the weak points [of the GT-R], it’s also about utilising [the benefits of] a sports car body,” said Matsumura. “We are targeting a more flexible car.
“The adjustments we can make are quite limited in the season, and the weather conditions impact the air density and this impacts the drag.
“This is why we are targeting a more flexible, adaptable aerodynamics balance. It’s not about whether it’s a ‘downforce machine’ or a ‘low-drag machine’.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article SUPER GT set for three longer races, no timed events in 2022
Next article Subaru shakes down modified 2022 BRZ SUPER GT challenger
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Nissan Motorsport
Five things we learned from the Mexico City E-Prix
Formula E
Formula E
Mexico City ePrix
Jan 13, 2025
Five things we learned from the Mexico City E-Prix
Rowland: I was doubting myself a lot prior to Formula E podium return
Formula E
Formula E
Diriyah ePrix II
Jan 28, 2024
Rowland: I was doubting myself a lot prior to Formula E podium return
Nissan suggests NDDP moniker no longer suited to #3 drivers
Super GT
Super GT Nov 16, 2023
Nissan suggests NDDP moniker no longer suited to #3 drivers
Latest news
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
How Istanbul is revamping its F1 circuit to clinch long-term future
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Turkish GP
2 h
How Istanbul is revamping its F1 circuit to clinch long-term future
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 19 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe