New Nissan Z becomes mighty SuperGT racer

Debuting at Fuji International Speedway, Nissan has said that the GT500 Nissan Z will first see action in the 2022 season. With the GT-R ageing, there will come a day soon when the Z is Nissan’s all-out flagship once again. Its main rivals will be the Honda NSX and Toyota Supra.

Indeed, it follows in a long line of successful Nissan Z racers, including the 300ZX which secured multiple wins in both GT500 and the IMSA series in America during an illustrious career in the 1990s.

The car itself is a world away from GT3 cars and GTE cars we’re familiar with. GT500 limits engine capacity to 2.0-litres and four cylinders, with a six-speed sequential transmission. Maximum power is capped at 650PS (478kW) while minimum weight with fuel and a driver on board is 1,030kg.

Nissan puts great stock in its previous motorsport successes and this informs the importance of retaining a presence in GT500. “The Nissan Z GT500 symbolizes Nissan’s spirit of taking on challenges and bringing excitement to life,” said Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta.

“Through our racing efforts we continue to innovate our cars and we race to win with the same daring we have displayed so many times over the years.”