GTR overtook a 911 Turbo prototype at the Ring

GTR overtook a 911 Turbo prototype.

Nissan has made it clear from the start that their new Skyline GT-R sports car is gunning for the Porsche 911 Turbo. A 911 Turbo has been the benchmark on hand during the Skyline track sessions, and some wheel-to-wheel, nose-to-tail battles have even been documented during testing. Nissan's assault on Porsche's pre-eminence has continued this past week at the Nürburgring, as test drivers have been running flat-out on the Nordschleife in pursuit of a fastest lap time than the 997 911 Turbo.

We watched as a Porsche-driven prototype for a facelifted 911 Turbo was on the track at the same time as a Skyline GT-R prototype. Our observations from earlier test sessions--that the Skyline is as fast, and probably faster than the 911 Turbo--appeared to hold true this week, as the Skyline reeled-in, and overtook the 911 Turbo prototype. While this is not scientific by any means--the 911 may have been running a less-intense durability cycle, and not a flat-out race run--our reporters on the scene hand-timed several of the Skylines laps and they recorded a best lap of 7 minutes 38 seconds. If those times are accurate, then it appears that the Skyline may have bettered the 7:40 time logged by a 997 911 Turbo that stands as a lofty Nürburgring benchmark.

Nissan will reportedly be continuing their run at the 'Ring record books next week. We'll be searching out any official confirmation of the Skyline's lap times, but you can be sure that if Nissan is successful at dethroning the 911 Turbo, it will be trumpeted loudly during the car's Tokyo debut in October.

For those who hate Nissan (or me for posting about them) I apologize but I though this was worthy of a post...in aobout three weeks we'll have some real facts and not just conjecture about the GR-R.

Link: http://www.worldcarfans.com/9070922.003/nissan-gt-r-record-setting-ring-run

You need to post all your references and where you work.


;)

7:38 is a lot more realistic than the 7:15 run that we had heard allegedly happened with the prototype before.

Certainly more realistic, yes, and if accurate, would also be faster than just about any street legal car...whatever its final credentials turn out to be, I think it's going to be an awsome car.

I'm not sure if I'm going to get one or not (I know I won't until at least the 2010 model year) - the next "Z" looks to be pretty good in it's own right (of course, that's all just speculation at this point too)!

This is the same car, right?

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3610/nissanskylinegtrfs3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

7:38 is hella fast. If I remember the '06 Z06 ran a 7:42. I think the '08 can easily run that number, maybe even faster with the revised suspension.

I'm sure the '08 Viper if driven well could do it too.

How about that new 2750 lb Scuderia F430 with 530 hp... that is a sick car.

Who knows. Most of the times that I have seen are a little bit confusing. The fastest time for the Veyron was reportedly 7:40. As was the Lambo LP640, MB SLR McLaren, and a time reported for the Carrera GT on a cold damp day. The group of slow cars with times of 7:42 include the Ford GT, Mosler MT900S Photon, Porsche 997 GT3 RS, and barely squeaking into a 7:42 was the Z06.

The only cars running at 7:38 or faster that are really cars would be the Koenigsegg CCR, Porsche Carrera GT in better conditions than above, Pagani Zonda F, Porsche 997 GT2, as far as I can tell.

Meh :shrug:

pretty cool :)

I'm sure that a non-production racing version of the GTR could run a 7:15 with race tires and enough boost. I wonder what it will weigh in at and what it'll take to own one...

:eek:

Who knows. Most of the times that I have seen are a little bit confusing. The fastest time for the Veyron was reportedly 7:40. As was the Lambo LP640, MB SLR McLaren, and a time reported for the Carrera GT on a cold damp day. The group of slow cars with times of 7:42 include the Ford GT, Mosler MT900S Photon, Porsche 997 GT3 RS, and barely squeaking into a 7:42 was the Z06.

The only cars running at 7:38 or faster that are really cars would be the Koenigsegg CCR, Porsche Carrera GT in better conditions than above, Pagani Zonda F, Porsche 997 GT2, as far as I can tell.

I definitely think the GT-R is being overhyped. The cars you listed are some serious hardware. For the GT-R to easily surpass all of them on one of the world's most difficult racetracks would take an engineering and tuning miracle.

ah theres always some one faster then you out there. and just because your the fastest today doesnt mean you will be tomarrow

Yes I actually do hate Nissan... but I'm an enthusiast and always appreciate a great car, no matter the badge.

The GTR is certainly one awesome car.

This is the same car, right?

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3610/nissanskylinegtrfs3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This is not a picture of the production version of course but yes, this is the GT-R

Always love another player to the mix. Do we have a possible repeat of the early 90s with Mazda murmuring about the revival of the RX-7, Honda's ASCC? Very cool.

Should be a cool car, but I'm waiting for real data once the car is released and more data comes in.

It looks great.

Dan

Nissans are OK and all, but thing looks too much like a paper airplane (the bodylines remind me of folds and creases :shrug:) I'll be interested to see what those things end up costing to maintain.

Neither of them will be the perfomance bargain that the z06 is, so this is all kind of moot, IMHO.

Nissans are OK and all, but thing looks too much like a paper airplane (the bodylines remind me of folds and creases :shrug:) I'll be interested to see what those things end up costing to maintain.

Neither of them will be the perfomance bargain that the z06 is, so this is all kind of moot, IMHO.
I suspect it will be significant but probably not out of line compared to similar vehicles (and certainly NOT out of line compared with its target vehicle, the 911 Turbo!). :)

When you get right down to it, how many "performanc" vehicles at any price point are a bargin as far as maint. costs go???

When does the production version come out? I'm very interested to see weight and HP numbers.

The production model will be shown at the Tokyo Auto Show on/about October 24th and I suspect well have some hard numbers available then.

It is supposed to go on sale in Japan in December ’08 and in the U.S. all I know off hand is “Spring” (if there has been a specific date established for the U.S. I haven’t heard it yet!).

Nice times for Nissan. They have certainly set the benchmark high and took the time, money and energy to get there.

I don't know much about the times at the ring. Is that the fastest production car time? It would seem to me that the variances in drivers, cars, tires and conditions could sway times by seconds over that kind of distance. With only 2 seconds between them is almost even.

Only one way to settle it put'em on the track back to back or even better at the same time and let the body guys fix the damage afterrward.