This Car Changed Japanese Racing Forever

Today, the Nissan Skyline GTR is so fundamentally baked into fabric of automotive enthusiasm, that its hard to imagine a time before its iconic, boxy shape stirred up emotion and nostalgia the way it does now. But for Nissan in the mid-80s, the reality was that of underperformance, both on the track, and in the sales charts. The marque was floundering, and desperately needed to revive its image, and they saw motorsport as their best shot. This is the story of Godzilla; the Nissan R32 Skyline GTR.

#r32 #racing #jdm

[LiamLeo]

It can't be underestimated how important the Australian racing GT-Rs were in the early 90s, because while they're probably not the most well known, the Aussie versions were next level compared to the Japanese versions. Just some fun facts, the team boss of the team running them in Australia had said one time that the Japanese versions would've never won in Australia, so they completely re-engineered basically almost the whole car to become the real godzilla we know today (suspension, wheels, gearbox, clutch, engine, even the cylinder blocks) and could make 700bhp in quali mode. Apparently Nismo got annoyed that the Australian team weren't using their parts, but the Australian manufactured versions were much cheaper and way better in comparison. Also to add to how much better the Aussie GT-R was than the Japanese version, when they received offers to compete in the Fuji 500 and the Macau GP’s touring car race, Nismo vetoed the idea because they knew their version was inferior. A Japanese team that were able to enter even looked into buying an Aussie GT-R to use, but Nismo once again blocked that. Truly a revolutionary bit of machinery was godzilla....

[traviswalker]

The R32 got its nickname via the wheels magazine in Australia which termed it as Godzilla in its review.

[cyclonicleo]

Good video. As an aside, the Australian Group A GT-R's were largely re-engineered by Gibson Motorsport who ran the Nissan Motorsport team here in Australia; its was NISMO in unofficial name only. So much work was done that the cars were putting out over 700bhp in qualifying trim, and the ATTESA and HICAS systems were largely ditched. Instead, the AWD system was switchable from the drivers cockpit. The Gibson cars were so fast, the legend goes that Nissan politely asked them not to go to Japan to compete at the Fuji 500, out of worry that the local teams would be soundly beaten.

I actually remember watching the Group A races of the era; the R31 raced alongside the R32 for a couple of meetings before both drivers got R32's; Jim Richards and Mark Skaife (who did the development) started destroying the Ford Sierras, BMW M3's and Holden Commodores. The uproar from the press and other drivers was stark; the GT-R virtually killed Group A in Australia and directly led to the V8 Supercars era.

[marty_debiru]

Not many people know this but in Spain there was also an R32 racing on the Spanish Touring Series. Probably as iconic (or even more) as it ran with the Repsol livery. The driver was the ex Formula 1 local driver Luis Perez Sala.

[sleazymeezy]

There is alot more information out there on the r32 in the ATCC. The aussie team ended up fabricating their own parts after racking up a $1, 000, 000 Bill with nissan. They won the 90, 91 and 92 ATCC with I believe only 3 non 1st finishes that were still podium finishes. It was the Aussies also that gave it the name godzilla after it upended their touring car championship.

Edit: see guy in comments for the proper stats

[MihzvolWuriar]

R32 is the prettiest skyline, with the best story, it's actually the only Skyline I like, this car is absolutely gorgeous.

[Zonda]

Great video!

Should be worth noting - Gibson Motorsport (the Australian team) test drivers found HICAS massively destablised the rear end under hard cornering and opted to develop the race trim without it. The 1991 Gibson R32 was arguably the fastest car in all of Group A, setting a class speed record of 293km/h down Conrod Straight during qualifying for that year’s Bathurst round.

[YellowbirdYT]

I always imagined Nissan looked at the Porsche 959 while developing the GT-R R32. In the same way the 959 became Porsche's benchmark for future 911s, the R32 became the halo car Nissan so badly needed to revive the Skyline. Funny how in 1989, Porsche also released the 911 Carrera 4, bringing their AWD system to the 911. This is a small world, when you think about it!

Also congrats on 9k! You're doing justice to these cars man.

[mint_au]

9:36 yo that lakeside raceway, that tracks like 5 minutes from my house sick

[christycullen]

Glad i found your channel. Your content is always really good and straight to the point

[Holden]

True story.

The Australian built Nissan GT-R that won the 1991 Bathurst 1000 was supposed to then be taken to Fuji for the 500 later that year. However, the boss of NISMO was at Bathurst to see the speed of the Gibson built cars first hand. After what he saw, he "requested" (told) Aussie team boss Fred Gibson keep his cars at home because he feared their speed (with Jim Richards and Mark Skaife doing the driving) would not only wipe the floor with the customer Nissan's in Japan ... but the factory NISMO ones too!!! And that he rightly maintained, was not good for business, even though Gibson's team was actually factory backed as well.

[Hoffie]

the GTR really proved that "Win races on sunday, sell cars on monday" worked.

[KillBones]

You should do a video about the monstrous Renault Espace F1, one of the most strange car Renault dare to build

[nizmman]

9:04 not really, Gibson Motorsports built their cars locally as Nismo was asking absurd prices for parts. Gibson invited Nismo to bring their Japanese R32s to Australia to compete against their R32s, Nismo refused ;).
Also, Group A racing got out of hand money wise, and the BNR32 was the final nail in the coffin for that category of racing. It did open up the 'Super Tourers' of the 90's (video idea perhaps? Primera, S40/850 wagon, A4, Accord, Vectra, 406, 155, Mondeo etc. etc.)

[Cynsham]

Man your motorsport videos are quite well made and entertaining, you deserve more than just 9k subs, so you gained another with me.

[TheresOnlyStef]

R33 Skyline Follow-up PLEASE!! That’s my favorite gen of the Skyline 🙌🏾‼️

[endgamerplays]

I wish touring car racing were more existent in the US.

[benhonda]

I was only 7 when the r32 came out, yet it still looks great, still has good specs and in stock form is proven reliable. I don't think that modern cars will prove to the same in 30 years time.

[macsmith]

Thanks for this!
I was aware the GTR is an icon, and one of my faves in GT games, but didn't know its history was so interesting. :)

[kitvexed]

something to note, Bathhurst 2023, Brad Sheriff's R32 was destroying everyone (until he crashed) - so the legend lives ON!