GOTO Racing Nissan GT-R Racecar Build
The R35 Nissan GT-R is an absolute fan favorite. Numerous GT-R owners have proof, with countless Sentras and Accords following them for miles with cell phone cameras or begging for a stoplight race. Yes, the old beat-down Sentra yardstick. Yes, despite the fan following for the car, very few racing teams have stepped forward to campaign the GT-R.
Nismo’s own high-budget efforts (FIA GT and Super GT) aside, there are no teams using a GT-R in production-based racing. Cars like the BMW M3 and Porsche 911 experience instant popularity in racing, due to their factory support programs and long history of racing. The GT-R, on the other hand, has a difficult time fitting into any US based racing series because of its displacement, power, weight and lack of factory racing development.
Still, GOTO:Racing has moved forward with their car and their own development. Together with GT:R Fabrication, GOTO has already stripped down their white Nissan GT-R and are in the process of building their racecar. The recipe calls for JRZ triple adjustable shocks, Eibach springs, MODE Racing engine parts, Hoosier slicks, Cobb Tuning ECU and Performance Friction brakes.
The plan is to strip down the car and build a basic racecar first; near showroom stock. Then the GT-R will be given more power and further development as the basics become set. It’s a solid plan that should help keep small problems from becoming big problems. Always a good idea when you’re pioneering things by yourself.
Interestingly enough, GOTO is reaching out to the Internet community for support. Their updated build-up forum thread can be found at the North American GT-R Owners Club (NAGTROC HERE) and all the factory parts that are stripped can be purchased (HERE). Reaching out to the GT-R-obsessed Web community should help boost recognition of the car. If we see another YouTube video from someone named GtRfaN8538, we’re going to put an ice pick into our eyes.
The plan is to also campaign the GT-R in endurance racing events, including the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. This should ensure easy entry; endurance races have classes to fit virtually any type of car. We’ve seen turbocharged Escorts enter and run quite successfully. GOTO’s build-up thread will be constantly updated until the car is complete and we’ll always have a soft spot for checking out people’s project car and race car builds online. Let us know if you have one of your own.
[Source: GOTO:Racing]
GOTO Racing’s release:
GOTO:Racing Announce GT-R Time Attack & Enduro Campaign with NAGTROC Support
GOTO:Racing and GT:R Fabrication are excited to announce they have taken delivery of a brand new 2010 Nissan GTR, for Time Attack and endurance racing competition. The stunning Ivory Pearl GTR was driven straight off the showroom floor and into the service bay of Rob Green Nissan in Twin Falls Idaho. The dealership was gracious enough to allow the GOTO:Racing crew to begin the tear down of the car on-site.
Brian Lock, lead driver and fabricator, commented on the occasion, “I must say I cried a little inside as I took the first bolt out of such a beautiful car. The first few panels were tough, but it got a lot easier as I realized that this was actually happening and we were going to be making a GTR into a racecar.” When asked why they chose a GTR for their next racing platform Brian replied, “Simple, it’s a race car straight from the factory. All we need to do is throw a roll cage in, shed some weight, put on some race tires, and we’ll be competitive right off the bat.”
This is not the first time GOTO:Racing has chosen the Nissan badge for motorsports. GOTO was developing a Nissan 350Z for Koni Challenge competition before funding problems forced them to abandon the project. Steve Lock, owner of GOTO:Racing commented, “I feel like we have some unfinished business with Nissan, we were very impressed by both the 350Z and the support we received from Nissan Motorsports with our Koni Challenge program. Now we are going to get a chance to put Nissan and the GTR on the podium where they belong.”
The exact details of the build are still being formulated but GTR enthusiasts can count on seeing a full-fledged racecar GTR at Redline Time Attack events by the end of the summer. The lucky ones may even see it in testing at tracks around Northern California before then. The car will be prepared for the Unlimited AWD class of The Redline Time Attack, and endurance races such as the prestigious 25 Hours of Thunderhill.
