Nissan Skyline GT-R to Make North American Road Racing Series Debut in SPEED GT

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<tr> <td align="left" class=""> <font face="verdana" size="2"><span class="Title"><b>Nissan Skyline GT-R to Make North American Road Racing Debut in SPEED GT</b></span><br></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" class=""><br> <b>Courtesy of <a href="http://www.automotiveforums.com">AutomotiveForums.com</a></b></td>; </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" class=""><font face="verdana" size="2">
<table width="100" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="right"><tr><td align="center"><font face="verdana" size="2"><img src="http://files.automotiveforums.com/images/afgtr_small.jpg"></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><font face="verdana" size="2"><i>Competing in the 2006 SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship, the Nissan Skyline GT-R, “Godzilla,” will make its North American Road Racing debut March 15-17 at Sebring International Raceway. (Courtesy of Giovanni Castello, AutomotiveForums.com member)</i></font></td></tr></table><b>MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 15, 2006)</b> – Bringing the Nissan Skyline GT-R to a North American road racing series for the first time ever, AutomotiveForums.com has announced its entry into the 2006 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship.<br> <br> The team, based in the Los Angeles area, is preparing to make its debut March 15-17 at Sebring International Raceway, in Sebring, Fla., where SPEED World Challenge will begin its 17th season.<br> <br> The Skyline GT-R is a front-engine, all-wheel drive, two-door coupe, and with deep technical support from Skyline GT-R teams from both Japan and around the world, the AutomotiveForums.com team expects to be competitive right out of the box.<br> <br> “We are excited to have an opportunity to finally campaign the GT-R, a car with rich Japanese motorsports history, stateside against the likes of the Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911,” Crew Chief Sean Morris said. “We have been working toward this goal for quite some time.”<br> <br> Making his SPEED World Challenge GT debut along with the car, Igor Sushko, 20, will pilot the GT-R.<br>
<br> And though another driver has not yet been announced, the AutomotiveForums.com team has reserved two numbers, 69 and 70, with plans of adding a second GT-R to the roster later in the season.<br> <br> The 2006 SPEED World Challenge GT schedule could not be more perfect, giving the team an opportunity to contend at a variety of circuits and street course venues across the country alongside the American Le Mans Series, Indy Racing League, Champ Car, and NASCAR Nextel Cup.<br> <br> “As the product planner of the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, this car and its heritage have a paramount place in my heart,” Hiroshi Tamura said. “I am very excited to finally see the GT-R compete in a United States championship series.<br> <br> “I am fully confident in Igor and his team's ability to make the GT-R community around the world proud and we wish them good luck.”<br> <br> Associate and technical sponsors for this effort include Rays Engineering, Mackin Industries, Tilton Engineering and Brembo, with further support to be announced shortly.<br> <br> Launched in November of 2000, AutomotiveForums.com is today a leader in connecting the auto enthusiasts via the Internet. Currently, more than 435,000 members enjoy AutomotiveForums, with 500 new users signing up daily.<br>
<br> <b>Contact:</b><br> Victor Reyes<br> Courant Communications, LLC<br> 626-926-4307<br> <br> </td></tr></table>
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<img src="http://files.automotiveforums.com/images/gtrfront_full.jpg"; alt="AutomotiveForums.com Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 front"><br>
<img src="http://files.automotiveforums.com/images/gtrback_full.jpg"; alt="AutomotiveForums.com Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 rear"><br>
<p>Visit the <a href="http://www.automotiveforums.com/link.cgi?http://www.world-challenge.com"; rel="nofollow" target="blank">Official World Challenge Website</a> for further information on the series and competitors.

If your company is interested in joining our race team as a partner, please <a href="http://www.automotiveforums.com/corporate/contact.php">contact us</a>.

good luck on the upcoming races, igor!
and great job designing the new AF gt-r look, giovannni!

Umm can i copy that pic and post in my SIG PLEASEE....... I will make a offical AF user bar if you want :D

Goog luck Igor and Godzilla !
At least if you're unable to find someone for the nr.70 I'll offer my driver capabilities, I'm able to run a fiat 500 with 18hp :grinyes::grinyes::grinyes: J/K

Just rush godzilla! Crunch those Viper's fat butt cheeck :naughty:

looks awsome!!!
isnt that the nismo z-tune that you used? cant wait to see how it all ends up
GOOD LUCK!!

"And though another driver has not yet been announced, the AutomotiveForums.com team has reserved two numbers, 69 and 70, with plans of adding a second GT-R to the roster later in the season."

That caught my attention :grinyes:

Go Igor! I'll be cheering for ya and the whole AF team when I watch the race on speed (man I wish I could to one of these races :frown:)

Igor, I'm very curious as to who'll be driving the second car, especially as -having seen what the big boys are planning for ought-six - I know that a hired gun will be a necessity to keep the team's hopes alive.

Archer and Autohaus are now factory Mopar. Caddy has girded up with Pratt & Miller's full weight. There'll be Aston Martin DBRS9's and even a Ford GT with Sammy Hagar's pockets behind it.

I want to see you do well, Igor, I really do, but this isn't a time attack against street tuners. This is SCCA Pro at its most cutthroat since the days of the Kendall/Schroeder Mustangs and Fellows/Sharp/Baldwin Camaros in Trans-Am. If Autosport and their factory Volvos couldn't catch a break in Speed World Challenge against these guys, where will that put Automotive Forums with our 5 year old out-of-production Japanese coupe?

I don't know... I just figured that if it can still win its class at Nurburgring 24 hours the car's got to have something left in it.

Wholly different race under wholly different circumstances. Sprint races allow cars to run full rich without fuel economy worries or much fear of driveline breakage. Big power cars like the Viper and Corvette don't worry as much about tire wear, either.

The Nurburgring 24 is a testament to the bulletproof durability of the R34 GTR N1, and Mid-Ohio is a course very similar in spirit to the 'Ring, so the car may handle that track well.

However, I stand by my assessment that we at Automotive Forums are severely outgunned in this endeavour.

We can only do our best.

And I'll be cheering for you guys as well. Heck, I've crewed race cars before (short track open wheel, mostly) and have experience in setup, construction, maintenance, and testing.

If I'd thought you'd take the offer, I'd throw my hat in the ring to crew the Skyline, just to prove myself wrong. But that's pretty ludicrous.

However, right now I can only point out what I observe from my other role in motorsport; as a statiscian, journalist, and historian.

And I'll be cheering for you guys as well. Heck, I've crewed race cars before (short track open wheel, mostly) and have experience in setup, construction, maintenance, and testing.

Please cheer for us. Please come out to the events and watch the cars. The more support the better.

We will do our best to make sure the AutomotiveForums.com members are taken care of.

As far as predicitions of how a first year driver, first year car, and first year crew will do - --- we will have to see.

Igor and that Skyline will kick ass.

Good Luck Igor. i hope everything goes well and you compete very well. :D

WOW! love the color scheme esp. the eyes.
I hope it goes well. The vipers and CTS are tough comp. It will be cool to see a Skyline race. I will see it at Road ATL....hee hee

I aggree w/ a lot of what Layla's Keeper says but you know what being an under dog is great.

Go win a race.

PS: Read, "Unleash the Warrior Within" by Richard J. Machowicz (ex Navy SEAL) He has something to say about overcomming odds and adversity. Check reviews at Amazon

nice sheme, good luck

Hey guys are you being allowed to keep ur All Wheel Drive?? If this car is anywhere near the build avail to the JGTC cars.... its all going to be on the driver... I saw the JGTC 500 horsepower "limited" 350z in California... and saw the GT300 class cars KILL the Viper that was "allowed" to race. You guys are bringing to the table EXACTLY what this car over 15 years ago was intented...kill the competition on a road course... GTR was never MENT to be a drag racer.. I'm thinking once Igor understands the chess match happening on the track, and Sean and the boys keep the oil where it needs to be IE- rod bearings!-ugh! LOL. Sean did you get to "steal" the idea of the oil pick up from the gt500 motor you pulled apart??
This car is going to be the biggest thing to happen to american road racing since the tire...lol. You guys need help in the pits and I'll send Scott-Joule and his knowledge to you... I've road raced motorcycles most my life, so I'll be forced to stay at the shop and keep the parts comin in and out, and make sure the techs don't stand around jerkin off....LOL.
Hans

bull crap california caint north america north america is only canada (in my books) and we'v had that kind here for quiet awhile theres currently about 30 on our roads you cant register them but you can have them under deal plates quiet fun.


BRad

MAN! And i moved away fro fla! I gotta find a way back down there. sweet colors and design, all flows very nice. :thumbsup:

Speed World Challenge has no rule disallowing AWD, R33BusaMan. However, only the Audi RS6 has been able to employ AWD with any success on track.

The JGTC is hardly a gauge of production-based sports car racing. Serious road racing fans refer to it as "Japan's NASCAR" for good reason. It is highly unlikely that this Skyline GTR will "kill" the factory Autohaus Viper driven by Tommy Archer (you know, 2 time SWC GT champion and American Viper expert Tommy Archer).

I do think that the Woodhouse and McCann Viper teams will have a look back over their shoulders at this car, as will Stu Hayner's GTO and the new Aston Martin DBSR9's. However, factory teams like Autohaus or the Pratt&Miller Caddys are a whole different animal.

Hey guys are you being allowed to keep ur All Wheel Drive?? If this car is anywhere near the build avail to the JGTC cars....
Hans

The cars are N1 ex- Super Taikyu cars. Nothing at all like GT500 or GT300 cars. GT500 cars are mostly tube frame ,carbon fiber bodied cars. Not much of the stock cars left.

The cars we are running are very close to a street car. The motor I took apart with the swining oil pickup was one of the Super Taikyu engines. One of the engines from these cars. The engines we are running are Nismo built and Nismo tuned.

Igor you lucky bastard! Represent Nissan to the fullest my friend and congratulations!

That car is the sex !!!

Well I for one wish Igor massive luck in his quest... what an awsomely suberb car!

Good luck Igor! I doubt you're passing Poole in the UK so I wont see you but I shall be cheering from afar http://www.thesoulgirl.com/emote/Happy/RaRaRa.gif

Awesome! And i have to say that, that is one of the best paint schemes i have ever seen on a Skyline!

Best of luck, and if at first you don't succeed, try, then try again! :sunglasse

Awesome... its official! Hope to see you at Sebring! I be in touch when plans materialize!

Lovin the paint job.

Anyways to you boys from me and everyone at www.skylinesdownunder.com, we wish you the best of luck.

might have to upgrade my cable connection to see if ESPN will ever show the races.

^^ its the SPEED world challenge if ESPN is coveraging it somthing Majorly wrong. Speed own by fox espn owned by turner or party i believe.

Ok my bad, I'm in New Zealand, wasn't sure.

Igor, Sean, Victor and everyone....good luck and godspeed! i know you guys have all been living this for the last several months, and you deserve to have a blast and WIN :)

Natalie
Blacktrax Performance

ESPN is owned by ABC not Turner and both Speed WC and Speed Touring class of races are shown exclusively on Speed TV as they are the major sponsor of both series so if you dont have Speed TV, make sure you got it by March 12th.

Igor/Sean give them hell. Its time for a JDM to show the domestic crowd a thing or too. The mere presence of that car will give some of the "big boys" doubts. I dont care if you are in a vette, caddy or viper. They know what the car can do. You got my support.

PS. Nice Z-tune bumper.

Igor, congrats on your achievement to have the car ready for this series. Although the GTR is out of production currently and will not receive Factory Support, the wealth of experience and know-how about this car is still there to make it a winner. Plus lets face it, the parts to make this car a winner is available. I don't know much about the class you are entering so tell us more about it and what the rules are. You will have a car with 500 HP and maybe more torque, plus a 4WD system and the best braking sponsor you can find. Specifially, what modifications can be done to a car in this class?

I seriously doubt the Nissan will be much of a contender. Yes, once it's got enough horses it's fast, but the Dodge Viper and Corvette are both born-and-bred racers. We shall see.

Awesome

You perhaps don't know much about this car if you would say something like that. I have alot of respect for the cars you mentioned, but the win history of this car is quite impressive.

good luck man. im sure you will do great! what a beast.

i want a nissan GT-R. ill sport it around for AF. :D

Good luck in '06 Igor!!!!!

No matter the win history or the amazing paint, moving into this class will be a lesson taught. Igor I wish you all the luck in the world against these heavy hitters. I was amazed to hear/read your accomplishments with the car already. I think you have built a special bond with the car. I look forward to seeing a few wins on these pages. Enjoy!

Good one Igor....
Now I can tell my son that the same forum that helped-out daddy with his bimmer has it's name etched on the side of an ultra-fast skyline we once only saw in New zealand and Hong Kong....

Go AF and go Igor and Co.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck man, I'm going to do my best to make it to see you kick some ass! :grinyes:

Igor Sean and team AF , good luck and see you Atl or ohio tracks .
Juan .:iceslolan

now that is one sweet ride

Looks awesome igor, can't wait to see her with the new paint scheme :D

Awesome looking car! Good luck with the races. Any chance of getting a schedule posted so I'll know when to tune in?

I always root for the underdog... but I'll root for you guys instead!! Go get em!

Good Luck Guys

I will be rooting for you from here in the UK

Hopefully I will be able to catch some of the action on cable here

Sweet, hope that you make it up to Mosport (Bowmanville, Ontario). If you need a co-driver for that one gimme a shout ;)

I always root for the underdog... but I'll root for you guys instead!! Go get em!

Oh trust me, we are the underdog: New car to the series, new team, and new driver. Couldn't be more of an underdog than what we are :iceslolan

Awesome looking car! Good luck with the races. Any chance of getting a schedule posted so I'll know when to tune in?

The schedule is available here:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=516903

Igor I will catch up with you guys at Road Atlanta. If a guy comes up to you and says I am pimp1911. That is me. Lol.

TEH GTR CAN NEVER LOOZE. (jk) Wow! In all seriousness, bold step there with the R34 GTR, Sound's like its going to be a tough competition, Can only wish you all the best from here in Australia :)

Good Luck!

Sweet, hope that you make it up to Mosport (Bowmanville, Ontario). If you need a co-driver for that one gimme a shout ;)

This sounds great!!! Another excuse for hitting up Mosport on Sept 1-3! Hopefully you guys will be able to make it there. Every year someone ends up not makin' it (Diablo's one year, DB9's another... we have never seen the Zonda!!)


Good Luck guys. I'm looking forward to watchin' the season!!!

Great to see the GT-R here. I can't wait till the production version to get here in '09.

Speed GT's awesome, this is gonna be some tourney

Godspeed igor!
The GT-R is freaking awsome! I'd trade all my rides for one!(street worthy though)
Hope to make it out to one of the events :thumbsup:

xonelith, you'll be happy to know that not only will the Automotive Forums GTR be at Mosport, but you can look forward to TWO Aston Martin DBRS9's

http://www.world-challenge.com/news/06press4.html

and a Ford GT backed by Sammy Hagar (though the car remains a fair bit of conjecture, even though it was shown in the flesh).

http://www.kssmotorsports.com/Gallery/4aa49550-2bf3-49f4-a222-b31472560bc9/fd0e619c-e433-45fc-b633-f858070d1dbe/fd0e619c-e433-45fc-b633-f858070d1dbe1262005733921.JPG

It is my understanding that the Ford GT program will be delayed until 2007.

But I wanted to see the retro-abomination embarassed now. :iceslolan :wink:

Seriously, it's a shame if KSS and Jonsson can't get that car to the grid in time for '07, but considering I've heard from Hollfelder that they tried to get a GT onto the grid and Ford flat out told them "No", that KSS's program has come this far is a fair accomplishment.