As for the 911 GT1 (which wasn't a 911 at all) and the CLK-GTR/CLR, they were built using a completely different standard at the time. So it's the same kind of class, but class regulation was different then.

Maserati MC12 is the same class, but it was a purpose built racer with the road car purely existing to make the race car legal, so other constructors hated it. That's why it was declared illegal in ACO, but FIA allowed it, albeit with drastic modifications.

In any case, with GM and Aston Martin (which are the most successful) pulling out of GT1, the GT-R really makes no impact.

I should also point out that GT1 class in ACO and FIA are slightly different. 911 GT1 and CLK-GTR were under ACO, and therefore in Le Mans races. Maserati MC12 is FIA only, and was never allowed to participate in Le Mans.

The GT-R GT1 is also for FIA. Don't expect it to show up at Le Mans anytime soon. Or anytime at all.

God, I love endurance racing.

Here. If you're ever bored, read this.

[argent.fia.com])-121208.pdf

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Actually, if you want PR and bragging rights without having to work terribly hard at it, it makes perfect sense. Why else would Acura jump to P1 when Audisport won't commit to a full season of the ALMS?

And for those eager to hate on Nissan and the GT-R, Corvette ran GT1 for several years with little to no competition in that class. I don't see any of you crying over it.

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Now we're talking about FIA GT1, which is a different animal. There's always been lots of GT1 cars. Saleen S7R, Maserati MC12, Corvette C6R, Ferrari 550 etc... Now there's a Ford GT1 in the mix.

Of course, all that will change when FIA's exotic car ban comes to effect in 2010. Stupid FIA.

In any case, this is Nissan's equivalent to the Big Three's NASCAR campaign and Toyota's F1 team. No real connection to any of its products, but still wishing (really hard) for the halo effect.

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/bow

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