Robert Leca / Staff reporter
The Nissan GTR series has been one of the most iconic and recognizable cars series, but only one managed to be so dominant that it got coined “Godzilla”. Orientating from Japan, the Nissan R32 GT-R was the third major generation of the GT-R series. The car was created with only one goal in mind: to dominate a racing series which was called Group A. This series had a rake in which 1000 cars had to be produced for consumerism in order to allow a team to enter in it.
Boasting a 2.4L twin-turbocharged Inline-6 engine, the R32 produced over 270 horsepower, which was really a lot back in the 80’s and early 90’s. With only dominance in mind, Nissan engineers went all out, truly creating a beast. With simple tuning and upgrades, the stock engine was capable of outputting between 500-600 horsepower during races, and with an all-wheel drive system and drivetrain designed specifically for the GT-R, this power was delivered instantly to the wheels.
Integrating a four-wheel turning system and a specialized suspension called “Independent Double wishbone suspension”, the R32 was miles ahead of the competition, boasting extreme power and supplicated technology in a relatively light and less expensive frame.
When the Japanese company entered in the racing series called Group A with the GT-R, the Nissan was on a different level of domination. It won every single race it entered between 1990-1993, totalling 29 victories.
Seeing this extreme success, the Japan-born car moved overseas, testing the water on different tracks. In Germany, it set a track lap record of 8 minutes and 22 seconds on the famous Nürburgring ring, won the 24-hour race in Spa in 1991, Belgium, and the Bathurst 1000, a one-thousand-kilometre race in 1991 and 92’.
“None, regardless of talent, could dispute the GT-R’s ability to leave mouths agape and spines tingling. Its mind-blowing faculties seemingly blur the line between surreality and reality-what a fantastical “Anyone, anytime, anywhere” supercar should do.”
However, despite this success and the infamous fame and popularity it had gained across the world, the R32 was not crowned the title Godzilla until it met the soils of Australian ground. Entering in the 1991 and 92’ Australian Touring Car Championship, the third generation of GT-R won both championship titles, destroying everything in its path.
The dominance was so great that the racing federation that overlooked the Australian Touring banned turbocharges and all-wheel drive, effectively banning the beast that Nissan created.
However, the car did not go out without leaving an imprint on history, and eventually getting nicknamed “Godzilla” by the Australians, a nod to the Japanese heritage and how it destroyed everything in the way.
Above: All future generations of the GTR series
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