This Z is ready to go.
The long-running GT-R is officially being retired by Nissan. It’s not the GT-R’s final production model that Nissan is retiring. It’s instead the Super GT version who takes a bow at the end of the year. It completes 13 years of competition in the Super GT GT500 category. Five times, Nissan’s driver’s title was clinched by the GT-R.
As they say, all good things must come to an end. The GT-R will be passing its legacy on to the all-new Z by the 2022 Super GT Season. The Z will be returning to Japan’s top level GT racing, as it was the predecessor to the GT-R. Although the Z33 platform was the last to race in the league, it was still a highly successful race car.
The all-new Z GT500 is a new addition to the series after being absent for more than a decade. Although Nissan didn’t give any engine specifications for the race car, a quick glance at the rules and regulations should give an idea of the power.
The Z GT500, like all other cars in this series, must use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with one turbocharger. Although it sounds like a recipe for GT racing and not the BTCC, these engines pack a powerful punch. The engines can only produce 650 horsepower (485kilowatts), making them far more powerful than a 2.0-liter executive.
The all-new Z cues look clear from the outside. It’s not a Z, though, as it is a silhouette-race car with a tube frame, just like the rest of its class. This Z is still the most wild-looking Z yet, thanks to its wide, low stance and aerodynamic package.
The new Z GT500 will have big shoes to fill. The GT-R has five driver’s titles and its predecessor has four team championships trophies. The GT-R also gave a championship to one of its drivers on its first race. There is no pressure for the next-gen racecar.