It’s been a long wait for Nissan and even a longer wait for racing fans, but we’re getting closer and closer to finally watching the Japanese manufacturer take on Ford and Holden in their own backyard once more. With the pre-season test day taking place this Saturday, followed by the Adelaide Clipsal 500 a little under two weeks later we can finally see if the Altima will live up to the legacy of the Skyline GT-R. So what do we need right now? That’s right, a MONTAGE.


Paddy McGrath
paddy@dev.speedhunters.com 

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1

Expect total domination by team erebus and their mercedes.

2

They made a great job in making the car look as stock as possible. It can really fool you into thinking it's somehow related to the Altima you can buy at your local dealership. Then, they turn the engine on and you remember it's nothing more than a silhouette car with a huuuuuuuuuge V8 beast underneath and an entirely purpose built chassis.I wish them the best of luck. Thanks for making the grid of the V8 Supercars a bit more exciting.

3

Completely new playing field this year. Still going for Holden though!

4

The great thing about the early days of Touring Car racing was that you could aspire to own one of the cars that showed up on the grid, be it a Sierra Cosworth, R32 GTR or an E30 M3. You may not have been able to buy one that year due to the price, but it was something to aim for and made the racing far more interesting and relative. With these control everything cars, you can't look forward to seeing a v8 Altima in the dealership or seeing one on the road. For me personally, it takes the fun away from it. Even though WRC cars are modified hugely compared to the road cars, its great to know that I can go and buy a Fiesta ST and feel like I'm a 'part of the team'. THere is more of an inclusive nature to that racing than most modern day racing formats.
As much as I welcome Mercedes Benz and Nissan to the V8 supercars grid, if there isn't some reflection of the racing in the showroom, then the point they seem to be making is almost void. Ford and Holden may use the same chassis, but offer something reasonably similar in their showrooms for a half decent price, I hope to see the same from Nissan, I wouldn't expect it from Mercedes.

5

New godzilla? just comparing it to the gtr is a bit of an insult to the skyline, i feel it will be be the worst of the new cars, its very ugly, doesn't actually exist in the real world like the other cars, and the fact that up until the unveiling they were rumored to be down on power, then they release figures of 668hp, but only 100rpm from the rev limiter, me thinks that they're small horses and they have not been able to build an engine to the existing specs unlike the other competito

6

@rhysyeomans you couldn't buy a sierra cosworth when they were racing here, the m3s that raced were generally "outside the rules" at the time, and gt-r was purpose built for the group a regulations, competing against cars that at the time were esentially modified road cars, and it also cost as much as a 911 turbo when it was released.

7

@777  @rhysyeomans 
You and I may not have been able to buy them in reality, but as they were based on road cars, there was always that dream that you COULD own one if you mortgaged your home or sold an internal organ. I liked the fact that there was a road car that matched up with the name on the side of the race car, no matter how expensive it was. 
The Nissan Altima that will race this year is as far from a Nissan as you can get. It isn't something that kids are going to watch fly around Bathurst and then get excited seeing a road going version in the street.
In reality, this won't affect the racing but as someone who loves car spotting, its a bit of a sore point.

8

custom car that is built to look like an altima...... why???

9

Sweet.  I might actually start watching Australian V8 Supercar racing again.  It was so boring just watching Ford vs. Holden.

10

Sweet.  I might actually start watching Australian V8 Supercar racing again.  It was so boring just watching Ford vs. Holden.

11

Sweet.  I might actually start watching Australian V8 Supercar racing again.  It was so boring just watching Ford vs. Holden.

12

The Godzilla title is reserved for the R32. A R33 is NOT a Godzilla. A R34 is NOT a Godzilla. A R35 is NOT a Godzilla. This Altima is NOT a Godzilla as well.

13

The Godzilla title is reserved for the R32. A R33 is NOT a Godzilla. A R34 is NOT a Godzilla. A R35 is NOT a Godzilla. This Altima is NOT a Godzilla as well.

14

The Godzilla title is reserved for the R32. A R33 is NOT a Godzilla. A R34 is NOT a Godzilla. A R35 is NOT a Godzilla. This Altima is NOT a Godzilla as well.

15

Tube frame silhouette race car like the others in the V8 Supercar Series. Close exciting road racing, but I find SCCA World Challenge GT cars more intriguing thanks to the variety of PRODUCTION based cars in that racing series..

16

Tube frame silhouette race car like the others in the V8 Supercar Series. Close exciting road racing, but I find SCCA World Challenge GT cars more intriguing thanks to the variety of PRODUCTION based cars in that racing series..

17

Tube frame silhouette race car like the others in the V8 Supercar Series. Close exciting road racing, but I find SCCA World Challenge GT cars more intriguing thanks to the variety of PRODUCTION based cars in that racing series..

18

V8Superchassis = Not worth watching.

19

V8Superchassis = Not worth watching.

20

V8Superchassis = Not worth watching.

21

Great that Nissan has joined the category. At this point in time given that it has been Ford vs Holden for so long, do not care one bit that the race car has little relevance to a production car or significant connection to the old skyline GTR. As a Nissan owner I will be supporting the brand. Brilliant job with the car!

22

Great that Nissan has joined the category. At this point in time given that it has been Ford vs Holden for so long, do not care one bit that the race car has little relevance to a production car or significant connection to the old skyline GTR. As a Nissan owner I will be supporting the brand. Brilliant job with the car!

23

Great that Nissan has joined the category. At this point in time given that it has been Ford vs Holden for so long, do not care one bit that the race car has little relevance to a production car or significant connection to the old skyline GTR. As a Nissan owner I will be supporting the brand. Brilliant job with the car!

24

I find it odd that one of the cars is sponsored by Jack Daniel's. I'd expect the whiskey company to sponsor a team that races in a series based in the states rather than the V8 Supercar series. Well, I guess since it's sold around the world, it doesn't really matter. It's just odd.

25

I find it odd that one of the cars is sponsored by Jack Daniel's. I'd expect the whiskey company to sponsor a team that races in a series based in the states rather than the V8 Supercar series. Well, I guess since it's sold around the world, it doesn't really matter. It's just odd.

26

I find it odd that one of the cars is sponsored by Jack Daniel's. I'd expect the whiskey company to sponsor a team that races in a series based in the states rather than the V8 Supercar series. Well, I guess since it's sold around the world, it doesn't really matter. It's just odd.

30

@LouisYio Because Australians drink Fosters, and Fosters only. Right?

31

@LouisYio Because Australians drink Fosters, and Fosters only. Right?

32

@LouisYio Because Australians drink Fosters, and Fosters only. Right?

33

It hasn't been Holden VS Ford for years! It has been one race chassis VS another race chassis with different body panels. Now it's one race chassis VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels. Oh! But one of them looks like a Nissan. Big frikkin deal.

34

It hasn't been Holden VS Ford for years! It has been one race chassis VS another race chassis with different body panels. Now it's one race chassis VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels. Oh! But one of them looks like a Nissan. Big frikkin deal.

35

It hasn't been Holden VS Ford for years! It has been one race chassis VS another race chassis with different body panels. Now it's one race chassis VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels VS THE SAME race chassis with different body panels. Oh! But one of them looks like a Nissan. Big frikkin deal.

36

@Ezui  @LouisYio i live in Australia, and don't know a single person who drinks fosters......

37

@Ezui  @LouisYio i live in Australia, and don't know a single person who drinks fosters......

38

@Ezui  @LouisYio i live in Australia, and don't know a single person who drinks fosters......

39

still staying loyal to Ford, but i must admit the Mercedes are looking awesome

40

still staying loyal to Ford, but i must admit the Mercedes are looking awesome

41

still staying loyal to Ford, but i must admit the Mercedes are looking awesome

42

@somebodysb2 That's funny, because Wheels magazine, which coined the term, has used the term Godzilla for non-R32 GT-Rs on many an occasion.

43

@somebodysb2 That's funny, because Wheels magazine, which coined the term, has used the term Godzilla for non-R32 GT-Rs on many an occasion.

44

@somebodysb2 That's funny, because Wheels magazine, which coined the term, has used the term Godzilla for non-R32 GT-Rs on many an occasion.

45

@777 It will definitely be the slowest among the new cars, but then there is nowhere near the level of development for that engine as the others. The Ford and Holden units have decades of development behind them. The AMG engine, while not as old in basic architecture, has had huge resources poured at it (it's an AMG customer engine, after all) and is basically a reduced capacity version of the engine in the SLS GT3, hardly an underdeveloped car. The Nissan engine has also been raced in GT, but while the Kelly brothers team has Nissan factory support, the team itself has nowhere near the money as Erebeus owner Betty Klimenko. I personally just hope they can get the car developed by mid-year, so we can truly have a four-way battle each race!

46

@777 It will definitely be the slowest among the new cars, but then there is nowhere near the level of development for that engine as the others. The Ford and Holden units have decades of development behind them. The AMG engine, while not as old in basic architecture, has had huge resources poured at it (it's an AMG customer engine, after all) and is basically a reduced capacity version of the engine in the SLS GT3, hardly an underdeveloped car. The Nissan engine has also been raced in GT, but while the Kelly brothers team has Nissan factory support, the team itself has nowhere near the money as Erebeus owner Betty Klimenko. I personally just hope they can get the car developed by mid-year, so we can truly have a four-way battle each race!

47

@777 It will definitely be the slowest among the new cars, but then there is nowhere near the level of development for that engine as the others. The Ford and Holden units have decades of development behind them. The AMG engine, while not as old in basic architecture, has had huge resources poured at it (it's an AMG customer engine, after all) and is basically a reduced capacity version of the engine in the SLS GT3, hardly an underdeveloped car. The Nissan engine has also been raced in GT, but while the Kelly brothers team has Nissan factory support, the team itself has nowhere near the money as Erebeus owner Betty Klimenko. I personally just hope they can get the car developed by mid-year, so we can truly have a four-way battle each race!

48

glad there is another OEM getting in the mix.  However, It should have been based off of a RWD platform not an adapted FWD platoform.  Its not authentic to the spirit of the series. 
I do hope I can get to Austin this year to watch the race however.

49

Absolutly awesome!

50

nissan engine let go at testing today, good start to their campaign

51

nissan engine let go at testing today, good start to their campaign

52

@507RICKY @tom_507 que ardor como. Tu dices Rickyaaa!!! #bienquelosabes #navesota #nissansesupero

53

@507RICKY @tom_507 que ardor como. Tu dices Rickyaaa!!! #bienquelosabes #navesota #nissansesupero

54
ADimitriRoumeliotis

i really dont think they nailed the formula. whilst it may fool the masses i think its key to hold the interest of the hardcore fans. allowing FWD platforms to participate even considering its a control chassis is going to get people off side.
 
the championship is basically going to boil down to who's base car has has the best aero/least drag. 
 
if it end up being this car once their engine package is up to scratch itll just be annoying.

55
ADimitriRoumeliotis

i really dont think they nailed the formula. whilst it may fool the masses i think its key to hold the interest of the hardcore fans. allowing FWD platforms to participate even considering its a control chassis is going to get people off side.
 
the championship is basically going to boil down to who's base car has has the best aero/least drag. 
 
if it end up being this car once their engine package is up to scratch itll just be annoying.

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