Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 (R35, 2012 and 2018 generations)
The FIA GT3 customer version of Nissan's R35 GT-R, sold by NISMO from 2012 and rebuilt as a new generation for 2018. It uses a race-tuned VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 and rear drive. It won Bathurst, Blancpain Endurance and three Super GT GT300 titles, and suits buyers wanting a front-engined GT3 with Japanese support.
History
Nissan raced the GT-R in the FIA GT1 World Championship before that class disappeared at the end of 2011 14. NISMO and the British firm JR Motorsports then developed a GT3 version. It was announced in January 2012 at about £266,000 45. The car kept the road GT-R's VR38DETT engine but dropped four-wheel drive, as GT3 rules require 6.
The first cars raced from March 2012 in Super GT GT300, Super Taikyu and British GT 3. NISMO handled sales in Japan, Asia, the Americas and Oceania, while JRM covered Europe, Russia and the Middle East 35. For 2013 NISMO revised the camshaft timing, reinforced moving parts and added front canards. A kit was offered to bring 2012 cars up to date 315. Around 2014 JRM built each car by hand in about 300 hours 7.
The 2015 update made the car lighter. The alternator moved from the engine bay to the rear axle, the seat position changed and the brakes were reworked 6. That year the car won the Bathurst 12 Hour outright and the Blancpain Endurance drivers' title 114. Gainer also took the Super GT GT300 crown with Andre Couto 14.
A second generation tested at Fuji in April 2017 16. It went on sale in 2018 at ¥60 million before tax, with deliveries from January 2019 1. The engine sits 150 mm further back and lower, fed by a new dry sump 12. Suspension, crossmember, gearbox and brakes are new, and air conditioning became an option 1. Kondo Racing won GT300 titles with it in 2020 and 2022 14. By August 2024 the car was one of the oldest active GT3 models, homologated until 2030 8.
Palmarès
The car's biggest wins came in 2015. It won the Bathurst 12 Hour outright, and Alex Buncombe, Katsumasa Chiyo and Wolfgang Reip took the Blancpain Endurance drivers' title 114. GT Academy also won the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Pro-Am team title 14. In Super GT GT300 it took championship doubles in 2015 with Gainer, then in 2020 and 2022 with Kondo Racing 14. It also collected Super Taikyu, British GT and ADAC GT Masters titles 14. An ex-GT Academy car finished ninth at the 2015 Nürburgring 24 Hours 1112.
What to check before you buy
Confirm which generation and spec the car really is: Length is 4,780 mm on the 2013 car and 4,832 mm on the 2018 car. The 2018 car also has a dry sump and the engine set 150 mm back. Get engine kilometres since last rebuild and total kilometres: The 2014-spec schedule called for rebuilds every 4,500 km and an engine and turbo exchange at 18,000 km. Get gearbox kilometres since last rebuild: Early cars used a Hewland unit rated for 4,500 km between rebuilds. Ask for invoices for every NISMO upgrade kit fitted: Many early cars were upgraded to 2014 or 2015 spec. NISMO offered a kit to bring 2012 cars to 2013 spec. Check chassis number, FIA papers and any replacement shell: Chassis numbers such as R35GT3-3A04 appear in adverts. At least one car was rebuilt on a new chassis after an accident. Ask about the ECU and data: The 2014-spec car used a Pectel ECU with fuel maps per track. Confirm the maps, logs and software come with the car. Confirm parts and technical support in your region: NISMO supports Japan, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. JRM was the partner for Europe, Russia and the Middle East. Check the series you plan to enter accepts your spec: Weight and power are set by Balance of Performance. Option and spare parts needed vary by category, NISMO says.
Versions and evolutions
| Version | Years | What changed | How to identify |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 model | 2012 | Launch car developed by NISMO and JRM. 523 bhp, 1,300 kg, six-speed sequential gearbox, rear drive. 4 | No front canards and smaller front-wing louvres than the 2013 car. Ask whether the 2013 update kit was fitted. |
| 2013 model (and 2014 specification) | 2013-2014 | New camshaft timing, reinforced engine internals, over 550 PS. Front canards, larger front-wing louvres, moved rear wing, new gear ratios and brake balance. 3 | Canards on the front bumper and enlarged wing louvres. Length 4,780 mm. Many cars were later upgraded to 2014 or 2015 spec. |
| 2015 specification | 2015-2017 | Weight saving with carbon intake parts, lighter steering column and harnesses. Alternator moved to the rear axle. New seat position. Larger brake pistons and rotors, new master cylinder. 6 | Alternator mounted at the rear axle, not in the engine bay. Check the build sheet or NISMO upgrade invoices. |
| 2018 model | 2018 onward (deliveries from January 2019) | Engine 150 mm further back and lower, dry-sump oiling, new front and rear suspension and crossmember, new transmission with longer service cycle, stronger brakes, optional air conditioning. 1,285 kg. 1 | Road-car 2017 facelift nose, length 4,832 mm, wheelbase 2,817 mm, dry-sump tank. Engine visibly set back behind the front axle line. |
| 2020 update (GT-R NISMO GT3 Evo) | 2020 onward | Minor update to the 2018 car. Reported changes include moved cockpit switches, a power distribution module and revised ABS and traction control. 14 | Ask for NISMO documentation of the 2020 kit; the bodywork is close to the 2018 car. |
Known issues
- Short engine life between rebuilds — On 2014-spec cars the VR38DETT was scheduled for rebuild every 4,500 km. After 18,000 km the engine and turbos had to be exchanged. 7
- Gearbox service interval on early cars — The Hewland sequential on 2014-spec cars was rated for 4,500 km between rebuilds. Nissan fitted a new transmission with a longer maintenance cycle in 2018. 7
- Oil surge on wet-sump cars (2012-2017) — Nissan added a dry sump in 2018 to stop oil sloshing and loss of oil pressure. Check oil pressure logs from long, fast corners on earlier cars. 2
- Brake durability on early cars — Brake cooling and parts were reworked in 2015, then strengthened again in 2018. Early cars may show wear or fade in long races. 6
- Front-heavy weight distribution — A 2014-spec car carries about 56% of its weight on the front axle. Nissan moved the engine 150 mm back in 2018 partly to fix balance. not fixable on older cars without major work 7
- Cockpit heat in endurance races — Air conditioning was only offered from the 2018 car, to reduce driver stress in long races. Earlier cars have no factory system. 1
- Replacement chassis after accidents — Some cars carry a new bodyshell after a crash. One 2013 car for sale was described as rebuilt on a new chassis. 13
Checklist before you buy
- Confirm which generation and spec the car really is. — Length is 4,780 mm on the 2013 car and 4,832 mm on the 2018 car. The 2018 car also has a dry sump and the engine set 150 mm back. 1
- Get engine kilometres since last rebuild and total kilometres. — The 2014-spec schedule called for rebuilds every 4,500 km and an engine and turbo exchange at 18,000 km. 7
- Get gearbox kilometres since last rebuild. — Early cars used a Hewland unit rated for 4,500 km between rebuilds. 7
- Ask for invoices for every NISMO upgrade kit fitted. — Many early cars were upgraded to 2014 or 2015 spec. NISMO offered a kit to bring 2012 cars to 2013 spec. 3
- Check chassis number, FIA papers and any replacement shell. — Chassis numbers such as R35GT3-3A04 appear in adverts. At least one car was rebuilt on a new chassis after an accident. 13
- Ask about the ECU and data. — The 2014-spec car used a Pectel ECU with fuel maps per track. Confirm the maps, logs and software come with the car. 7
- Confirm parts and technical support in your region. — NISMO supports Japan, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. JRM was the partner for Europe, Russia and the Middle East. 3
- Check the series you plan to enter accepts your spec. — Weight and power are set by Balance of Performance. Option and spare parts needed vary by category, NISMO says. 1
Running costs 7
| Rebuild interval | Engine rebuild every 4,500 km on 2014-spec cars, engine and turbo exchange after 18,000 km; gearbox rebuild every 4,500 km. The 2018 transmission has a longer cycle. |
|---|---|
| Typical rebuild cost | Not published. Ask the seller for the last engine and gearbox invoices. |
| Consumables | 330/710-18 tyres front and rear on the 2018 car; 132-litre ATL fuel cell on 2014-spec cars; Sachs four-plate clutch. |
| Spares availability | NISMO continued parts and technical support for GT300 teams after 2021. In 2024 Nissan still supported named GT3 customer teams in Asia. |
Where it races today
- FIA GT3 national and international series · GT3 — Reported as homologated until 2030, but few cars still race. Check the current BoP table for your series. 8
- Super GT · GT300 — Nissan and NISMO committed to supply vehicles, parts and technical support for GT300 teams in 2021. 9
- GT World Challenge Asia and Super Taikyu · GT3 — Still raced in 2024 by teams such as 5ZIGEN and GTNET MotorSports. 8
- GT3 Revival, GT3 Legends and historic endurance events · Retired GT3 — A dealer lists these as targets for a 2013 car. Confirm with the organiser. 13
Market prices
- New 2012 GT3, launch price: 266,000 GBP (2012-01) 4
- New 2013 model, ex works, excluding tax (Europe): 270,000 GBP (2012-11) 3
- New 2014-spec car built by JRM, plus VAT: 295,000 GBP (2014) 7
- Used 2017-built ex-RJN car, 2018 Blancpain Endurance, asking price: 150,000 GBP (2019-05) 10
- Ex-GT Academy 2014 car at 2015 spec, Gran Turismo film car, auction estimate: 225,000-275,000 GBP (2023-08) 11
New 2018 cars cost ¥60 million before tax. In 2019 a recent ex-works car was offered at about half its new price. Provenance cars carried higher estimates in 2023. No sold result was found.
Reference prices are dated and sourced; live asking prices are in the listings above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a 2012-2017 car from a 2018 car?
The 2018 car has the facelifted road-car nose and is longer, at 4,832 mm against 4,780 mm. It uses a dry sump and its engine sits 150 mm further back and lower. Ask for the build sheet, because many older cars were upgraded with NISMO kits.
How often does the engine need rebuilding?
For 2014-spec cars the published schedule was a rebuild every 4,500 km, with an engine and turbo exchange after 18,000 km. No figure was found for the 2018 engine. Ask the seller for logged kilometres and the last rebuild invoice.
Can I still race one in GT3?
A 2024 report said the car is homologated until 2030. It still raced in Super GT GT300, Super Taikyu and GT World Challenge Asia that year. Organisers set its weight and power through BoP, so check the current table.
Who supplies parts?
NISMO handles Japan, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. JRM covered Europe, Russia and the Middle East for earlier cars. Nissan said in 2021 it would keep supplying parts and technical support to GT300 teams.
Is a 2012 car worth upgrading?
NISMO offered a kit to bring 2012 cars to 2013 spec, and several cars were later raised to 2014 or 2015 spec. The 2018 changes moved the engine and sump, so a full 2018 conversion is unlikely to be practical.
Sources
- 2018 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 to go on sale, Nissan Global Newsroom (2018-05) — 2018 changes, specs, price, race record
- 2018 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3: Factory Racer Refined, The Drive (2018-06) — Dry sump and oil pressure, engine position
- The 2013 model Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 released, Nissan UK Newsroom (2012-11) — 2013 changes, update kit, specs, price, support split
- NISMO Nissan GT-R GT3 racing car revealed, evo (2012-01) — Launch price, power, weight
- Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 now available to order for $388,000, AutoGuide (2012-01) — NISMO and JRM development and support
- Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 2015/2016 update, ForceGT (2015-09) — 2015 changes: alternator, brakes, seat
- Building the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, Carwitter (2014) — JRM build, Hewland gearbox, rebuild intervals, weight split, price
- Nissan todavía no contempla un sucesor para el GT-R NISMO GT3, Diariomotor (citing Sportscar365) (2024-08) — Homologation to 2030, active series and teams, 2020 update
- Change of SUPER GT GT500 class vehicles, Nissan Global Newsroom (2021-11) — Continued GT300 parts and technical support
- Wednesday Want: Nissan GT-R GT3, GTPlanet (2019-05) — Used ex-RJN car asking price
- Nissan GT-R race car from new Gran Turismo movie for sale at Silverstone Auctions, Racecar.com (2023-07) — Auction estimate, 2015 Nürburgring result, film car
- 2014 Nissan R35 GT-R 8A01, race-cars.com (2023) — Upgrade to 2015 spec, ownership and race history
- Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 (2013) for sale, Ascott Collection (2025) — Chassis number, replacement chassis, historic GT3 eligibility
- Nissan GT-R in motorsport, Wikipedia (2026) — GT1 background, championship list, 2020 Evo update
- Nissan sharpens up the GT-R: Japanese GT3 sports car gets updates for 2013, ADAC Motorsport (2012-11) — 2013 power increase 520 to 550 bhp
- New Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 breaks cover, Sportscar365 (2017-04) — First test of the new-generation car at Fuji
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