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Nissan GT-R laps Nurburgring in 7:26, beats Corvette ZR1

omarrana submitted on 5/14/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 10:29:45 AM

63 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.egmcartech.com

Tag Link: Nissan

While Porsche is claiming that the Nissan GT-R still can’t mange to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in a time better than 7 minutes and 54 seconds, Nissan announced today that Godzilla has improved its lap-time to 7:26.

“This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R,” says Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist. “We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year.”

Yes, that time is officially better than the 7:26.4 seconds for the 2009 Chevrolet ZR1 piloted by GM development engineer Jim Mero. We have no word whether Chevy and Mero will be headed back to the Nurburgring to top the new GT-R time.

On a side note: In October 2008, it was reported that...

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Nissan GT-R laps Nurburgring in 7:26, beats Corvette ZR1

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User Comments

Corvette ZR1 is at 7:22.4 http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f13/corvette-zr1-sets-new-ring-time-7-22-4-a-70769/
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 11:26:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Also, I have read postings on other sites that the new GTR time is 7:26.7
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 11:30:53 AM | | Votes: 3

ughh... triple post, my bad. The time hasn't been confirmed by anyone yet.
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 11:46:16 AM | | Votes: 1

From Nissan:

??7?26?70?

Which we can assume translates to 7:26.7
— henbmw (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 12:03:24 PM | | Votes: 3

"On a side note: In October 2008, it was reported that Jan Magnussen, a race car driver from Denmark and a General Motors factory driver, took the Corvette ZR1 around the Nordschleife in 7:22.4. However, GM nor Chevrolet ever confirmed that time so we have to count it as unofficial."

I guess you didn't read the fine print?
— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:37:43 PM | | Votes: 4

I think a lot of people will call shenanigans. I say Top Gear or some other respected international body should take 1 example of both cars (customer owned cars) to the track on the same day and have 2 drivers drive them back to back and compare the times. Quite frankly throw in a 911 of some sort to round the lineup.

Honestly, it doesn't mean that much to me but I know there are panties in a bunch in Detroit right now just like after the ZR-1s time was posted some panties got into a bunch in Japan.
— 91z4me (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 11:30:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Let's get the Stig to settle this!
— Veeracer (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 4:08:21 PM | | Votes: 0

I gotta make more money.
— Brembo (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 11:32:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7

These Nurburgring wars are getting silly. I think the times give a good impression of how well the car handles, but it doesn't explain everything. For instance, each one of these cars was tested by a different driver, in different driving conditions. It can never be a fair test.. and playing with the results is extremely easy. So, it really is about bragging rights. If you wanna find out the best handling car, see the fastest time YOU can get around a track, and which car you enjoy driving more around a track.
— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 12:00:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

I think you bring out some very valid points. However, competition, no matter how silly, improves product. I would love to see a prominent automotive journalist's source take out the GT 2, ZR1, and the GTR on a dry day out to the 'ring and have at it, as 91z4me suggested.
— golfer38 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 12:12:07 PM | | Votes: 5

That's true and good for us customers. And yes... the best way to see which car handles best is to test them side by side.
— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 12:31:34 PM | | Votes: 3

If that was the case, GT-R will come out on top every time due to it being superiorly balanced, stable and much much easier to drive. The RWD drive cars will be a handful the more powerful they are because journalistic suck at driving. If conditions on the ring should change for the worse, again GT-R will triumph. The only reason the ZR1 was able to post such good numbers is due to a great driver and a 200hp and superior weight advantage.
— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 1:02:06 AM | | Votes: 0

Well if we read a bit deeper in to the article the GT-R used R compound tires. That would EASILY make the difference.
— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 12:09:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

So it's faster than even the GT2? How come Driver's Republic magazine found the GT-R to be almost six seconds slower around the ring than the GT2?

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1537/gtrvsgt2laptimesdrivers.jpg

http://magazines.drivers-republic.com/driversrepublic/thetruth030/

Btw, it seems that Porsche is still claiming that the GT-R still can;t do better than 7:54.

http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/04/23/round-2-fight-2009-911-gt3-laps-nurburgring-in-745-porsche-says-nissan-gt-r-is-still-slower/
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 1:05:52 PM | | Votes: -12

I can't seem to find where you are finding the tire data for this latest run.
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 1:33:05 PM | | Votes: 5

TurboSpyder:
"So it's faster than even the GT2? How come Driver's Republic magazine found the GT-R to be almost six seconds slower around the ring than the GT2?

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1537/gtrvsgt2laptimesdrivers.jpg

http://magazines.drivers-republic.com/driversrepublic/thetruth030/"

In the Drivers Rupublic test Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 GT2 are BOTH 17 sec slower than times claimed by BOTH automakers:

Porsche 911 GT2 claimed time: 7:32

http://www.autospies.com/news/Video-Porsche-911-GT2-s-7-32-run-at-the-Nurburgring-21040/

Nissan GT-R claimed time on Bridgestones like in the comparison test: 7:38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzBcZFWAi6Q

On Dunlop tires GT-R is a few second faster.
— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 2:56:33 PM | | Votes: 3

In English please, abcd. Nissan claims 7:24 for the GT-R and according to you Porsche claims 7:32 for the GT2 but when Driver's Republic ran them both head-to-head they found the GT2 to be almost six seconds faster than the GT-R. How do you explain that?
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 7:02:29 PM | | Votes: 0

Correction, Nissan claims 7:26 for the GT-R.
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 7:03:44 PM | | Votes: -4

TurboSpyder, in the test conducted by Drivers Republic Nissan GT-R is on Bridgestone tires(you can read this from their test), Nissan claims that on the Bridgestone tires GT-R is around 5 seconds slower than on Dunlop tires(you can read this from Drivers Republic test also). Porsche is almost 6 seconds faster in the Drivers Republic test, Nissan GT-R is 5-6 seconds faster on Dunlop tires, so both cars are equally fast - Porsche GT2 and Nissan GT-R on Dunlop tires.
-----
Porsche claims 7:32 time for the GT2 on factory equipped Michelin Sport Cup tires(these are semi-slick very sticky tires), in the Drivers Republic test Porsche goes on the same tires:
http://www.autospies.com/news/Video-Porsche-911-GT2-s-7-32-run-at-the-Nurburgring-21040/

Porsche GT2 is few seconds faster than Nissan GT-R on Bridgestone tires but slower than GT-R on Dunlop tires. Drivers Republic conducted the test for previous year specification GT-R, with that specification Nissan was claiming 7:29 time for the GT-R on Dunlop tires, but Drives Republic tested the GT-R on Bridgestone tires. Add 5-6 seconds(becouse of Bridgestone tires) to the 7:29 and you have 7:35. 7:35 is about 3 seconds slower than the GT2 time according to Porsche's claim. GT-R was almost 6 seconds slower in Drivers Republic test, additional 2-3 seconds may came from other factors.
— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2009 7:47:07 AM | | Votes: -1

This is how Driver's Republic summed up their test:

"Could the Nissan really go 27-seconds faster? I just done know. Unlike the Porsche time, we have video evidence of Toshio Suzuki setting a 7:29 03sec lap and he is supercommitted. In fact it's a brilliant piece of driving. But I just don't see where another 27-seconds comes from with the car I drove Ten, perhaps - fifteen with a set of those gummy Dunlops fitted, Suzuki-san driving, using his sublime skills and telepathic knowledge of the car's handling traits. I felt I came much doser to extracting the maximum performance of the Nissan on this single-flying-lap challenge than I did the Porsche."
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2009 10:40:12 AM | | Votes: 0

LMAO @ Porsche...AGAIN
— Denali (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 12:37:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8

Now all they need to do is hang the bastard that designed the Nissan GT-R with a chainsaw.

lol :-D
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 1:08:50 PM | | Votes: -4

LMAO at all the day dreamers.

24 Hours of Le Mans wins since Porsche took the overall win in 1998:

1999 - Porsche (Manthey Racing) wins the GT category with a 911 GT3-R.

2000 - Porsche (Team Taisan Advan) wins the GT category with a 911 GT3-R.

2001 - Porsche (Seikel Motorsport) wins the GT category with a 911 GT3-RS.

2002 - Porsche (The Racer's Group) wins the GT category with a 911 GT3-RS.

2003 - Porsche (Alex Job Racing - Petersen Motorsports) wins the GT category with a 911 GT3-RS.

2004 - Porsche (White Lightning Racing) wins the GT category with a 911 GT3-RS.

2005 - Porsche (Alex Job Racing - BAM! Motorsport) wins the (renamed) GT2 category with a 911 GT3-RSR.

2007 - Porsche (IMSA Performance Matmut) wins the GT2 category with a 911 GT3-RSR.

---

American Le Mans Series class wins since 1998

2000 - Porsche 911 GT3-R wins GT class

2002 - Porsche 911 GT3-RS wins GT class

2003 - Porsche 911 GT3-RS wins GT class

2004 - Porsche 911 GT3-RSR wins GT class

2005 - Porsche 911 GT3-RSR wins (renamed) GT2 class

2006 - Porsche RS Spyder Evo wins LMP2 class

2007 - Porsche RS Spyder Evo wins LMP2 class

2008 - Porsche 997 GT3-RSR wins GT2 class

2008 - Porsche RS Spyder Evo wins LMP2 class

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 7:08:00 PM | | Votes: 0

TurboSpyder, who cares what racing cars can do?

Do we buy them? NO.

Do we buy cars for civilians? YES.

This is what really matters - achievement of ordinary cars. It's fine to have racing successes to boost brand marketing but at the end of the day street legal wheels are relevant.

And this is the win for the GT-R.
— MrBratwurst (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 4:48:03 PM | | Votes: 2

The BS ometer is pegged on this one. Sorry Godzilla fans, but even if that thing going lap the ring in 5 flat I would not want it. Give me a car with no electronic gremlins controling the thing over a mainframe with wheels any day of the week.

Also the R compound use is a joke, might as well let Porsche run a race preped car if Nissan can use any tires they want. Lets put the ZR1 on a set of wheels and tires from the LeMans Vette and see what it posts. Or better yet why doesn't Nissan make a LeMans version and then we can see who would win over 24 hours. But then they would need a tranny that would last more then a day of hard driving.
— rigid (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 12:42:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

The Tranny problems are blown out of proportion. They don't brake under hard driving, the brake under launch control, and so far it's only about 5 for every 1000 GTR's that have broke.
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 1:34:35 PM | | Votes: 5

In other news. Porsche shits a brick and GM can not afford to improve the Corvette and Dodge is canceling the Viper program. The only american company that can try it Ford with the GT40 and even that is not a formidable challenger.
— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 1:56:40 PM | | Votes: 1

Good job Nissan! I knew you guys had it in you to make the GT-R even better!
— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 1:00:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8

Great job Nissan. What a car. The performance, the price, the technology. It's certainly a revolution in sports cars. And good to see Nissan contiusely improving it and releasing new models/updates almost every year.

JUGNU
— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 1:31:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

Uh, hate to burst your bubble, but the Dodge Viper ACR still own the GT-R's ass with a 7:22.1 on its first day out on the track. It'll probably do a 7:18 with at least two day's practice!! Nice try, Nissan, you still fail.
— LaidOut (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 2:13:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

You mean the one with race r compound tires and a wing the size of a park bench? Yea the the gtr is using neither. It also has more power and weighs less.
— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 2:18:49 PM | | Votes: 1

The viper comes stock with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, which is what they used. Do you complain if companies use Carbon ceramic or carbon carbon brakes? The reason why most people complain is that the viper comes with adjustable suspension, and they were able to adjust the damping a few notches. Otherwise they left the adjustable spoiler/splitter at factory settings. Also, would you say that the underbody's found on most exotic supercars make them cheaters? Who cares if the Viper uses a spoiler, all sports cars use aerodynamics to create downforce.
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 2:42:43 PM | | Votes: 3

LaidOut
what makes GT-R special is not because it is the fastest/best handling car (although it does a very good job on that). it is because NEVER before a 70k car can perform as well as a 200k Car. (i am not including ZR-1 here, which is also a great car for its price).

so you fail
— ghosthunter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 2:50:15 PM | | Votes: 3

ACR viper $86140, ZR1 vette $103300, GTR $80790 all of these are cheap cars. The GTR is attractive because it has rear seats and Nissan sells the cars at a loss, so you really do get more then what you pay for. But hands down the adjustable 600 viper will annihilate the 480hp, 400+ lb heavier GTR. It would be interesting to see how much the GT2 costs without the ($20,000 minimum) Porsche name tag on it.
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:30:39 PM | | Votes: 1

How do you know that Nissan sell GT-Rs at a loss? What is your source of information???
— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:42:15 PM | | Votes: 1

Laid out. You are correct. ACR Viper Rules
— bfghemicuda (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 6:19:41 PM | | Votes: 1

"On a side note: In October 2008, it was reported that Jan Magnussen, a race car driver from Denmark and a General Motors factory driver, took the Corvette ZR1 around the Nordschleife in 7:22.4. However, GM nor Chevrolet ever confirmed that time so we have to count it as unofficial."
— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:44:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Somebody needs to arrange to have these cars race against each other at the same time on the 'ring. Oh wait, Driver's Republic magazine did that with the GT-R and GT2 last year and found that the GT2 was considerably quicker around the 'ring than the GT-R. But Nissan claims that the GT-R actually has a much better time than the GT2. How is it possible?
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 2:46:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

read above, abcd may have answered your question.
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:33:02 PM | | Votes: 2

Haha, another smackdown by GT-R :-)

hey not a complete loss by Porsche though, at the end of the day, that 1000% markup helps pay for the badge and prestige right?
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:24:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

The badge and prestige won't make the car go any faster!
— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:44:55 PM | | Votes: 2

C'mon, 2 seconds off for what?
Just give us laptime of spec V!
— dlin (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 3:39:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

You realize that the LFA test mule has an unofficial time of 7:24 around the Nordschleife.
— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 5:14:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

So you actually can fool most of the people most of the time?!
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 7:09:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7

You should know that my religion condemns me to hell if I'm popular. James 4:4 and Luke 6:26, John 15:19 etc. I prefer to be right.
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 1:29:31 AM | | Votes: -2

Whoa! TurdoSpyder's popularity is sinking faster than the Titanic!!!
— F1_Driver (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 7:27:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Just when you thought is couldn't get any lower, it'a approaching absolute zero.
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 7:29:39 PM | | Votes: 2

Who gives a turkey ? when the Snowman and the Bandit are runnin' the booze - nobody can stop us...

P.S. pushrods rule and so does the ACR !
— theman440 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 7:33:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

What happened to the broken trans comments? Now we are back to Nissan "cheating".
Guess some people cannot admit defeat, like a bunch of little kids on a playground.
To Nissan haters: F'in GROW UP!
— avanti64 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2009 11:18:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

A lot of people also drank the kool-aid thinking they were told the truth.
— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 2:10:42 AM | | Votes: -1

Ladies,

Stop the fighting. I've driven the GT-R, Porsche 997 Turbo, and a SRT Viper and their all different experiences for different types of people. So what if people have clocked in times for the ring? Electronics malfunction, timers make mistakes, cars run better on certain days, too many factors to take into account. Why not just enjoy these works of art and take them for what they are...THRILL MACHINES!

In the end anyone can agree they are all very good and no one could ever regret owning or driving one. For engineering the GT-R and Porsche's are amazing and second to none. For quality Porsche tops all. Overall Raw power and torque I think the Americans have always owned that department. Pick your poison and enjoy the high!
— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 10:20:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Agent63 I totally agree and enjoyed your comment.
— bfghemicuda (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 11:20:57 AM | | Votes: 1

The Vette got B***H Slapped...Porsche is still crying.
— Type707 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 3:34:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

The time for the GTR was 7:26.7, not 7:26 http://www.fastestlaps.com/index.php?page_id=track&track=2&filter1=true&filter2=true&filter3=true&filter4=true
— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 3:52:52 PM | | Votes: 0

Who cares? We're only talking about a few seconds here or there and all records eventually fall anyway. In the end people are going to buy the car they want and their decision will be based primarily on Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit lap times.
— Eyecarehawaii (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 3:42:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Uhh, didn't the Zr-1 do it in 7.22.4 and the Viper in 7.22.1?
— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2009 3:47:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Shite , i havent driven any of these machines . Not even on playstation :(. So please dont stop argueing about which is better . cause thats whats this site is all 'bout ,thrills in the Peanut Gallery.
Nothing gives me more satisfaction than looking at a gussied up beetle (as per J Clarkson, hero of the peanut gallery ) that costs 100k + and its 2K + cheesy watch option and laugh and say its not good enough ...
Not to think of all the dinero its saves ... ahhh !!! I simply feel wealthy .. uhm lets add Starbucks to my iternary and see what that cutie in apt 714 is upto ...
— izfuney (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2009 5:29:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

There's trouble in paradise!
— 993Turbo (View Profile)

Posted on 5/18/2009 9:07:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Nissan GT-R laps Nurburgring in 7:26, beats Corvette ZR1

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