Nissan tests new GT1 contender

Nissan’s long absence from the international sports car arena appears set to end, 10 years on from its last attack on the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Japanese manufacturer has begun testing a racing version of its GT-R supercar, built to the new GT1 rules due to come into force in 2010. The V8-engined contender has been described as a “test car” by Nissan’s in-house motor sport department, NISMO, but confirmation that it will race in next year’s new World Championship for GT1 cars could come as early as March.

The GT-R hit the track for the first time at Fuji just before Christmas and then took part in an extensive test together with Nissan’s Super GT racers at Sepang in Malaysia in mid-January. NISMO has not discussed details of the test, but it is known that British GT specialist Darren Turner drove at Sepang.