Wikipedia

Nismo

Nissan Motorsports International (ニッサン・モータースポーツ・インターナショナル株式会社, Nissan Mōtā Supōtsu Intānashonaru), abbreviated as Nismo, is a division of Nissan Motorsports & Customizing focused in motorsport and performance-oriented car models for Nissan. Nismo was initially a company, Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (ニッサン・モータースポーツ・インターナショナル株式会社, Nissan Mōtā Supōtsu Intānashonaru Kabushiki-gaisha), formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departments, being the in-house tuning, motorsports and performance subsidiary of Nissan. It has competed in JSPC, JTCC, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. They currently participate in Super GT and Formula E. Nismo ceased to be a company in April 2022 by being merged with sister company Autech into a new Nissan subsidiary, Nissan Motorsport & Customizing.

Nissan Motorsports International
Nismo
Company typeDivision
IndustryAutomotive
Founded
  • 17 September 1984; 40 years ago (1984-09-17) (as a company)
  • 1 April 2022; 2 years ago (2022-04-01) (as a division)
Headquarters
Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
,
Japan
ProductsCars, auto parts
ServicesTuning and racing
ParentNissan Motorsports & Customizing
Websitewww.nismo.com
Nismo shop in Yokohama, Japan

History

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The Nismo story began in 1964 when a local company called Prince Motor Company realized that they could boost their sales by going into the competitive motorsport business. Nismo's first competitive motor sport debut was on 1 May 1964 − in their first race they ended up coming just short however it was bitter sweet as the Skyline took all positions from 2nd to 6th.[1]

In 1984, Nissan decided that it wanted to merge its two motorsport divisions, founded through the 1960s, they were Oppama Works [ja] (known as Publication Division 3), based in its Oppama factory, responsible for the needs of privateer teams and Ōmori Works [ja] (Special Car Testing Division), within its Ōmori plant, responsible for its factory operations.[2] The company's intention following the merger was to specialize in sportscar racing, but it also provided support for teams competing in the domestic F3 series.[2]

In 1988 the first dedicated race car by Nissan debuted, and saw incredible performance in circuit races. This vehicle was the iconic Nissan Skyline R32, sporting the GT-R badge.[1][clarification needed]

In 1988, Nismo built its first car, the Saurus for motorsport use for its one-make series. The following year they developed the Skyline GT-R for racing as well as building the 500 evolution editions for road use.[2] The R34, the R32's generational grandchild was the first car to be produced with a V-Spec.[1]

 
The second-generation Nissan GT-R at its first public presentation at the 2013 42nd International Pokka Sapporo 1000km.

In December 2021, Nissan said it would merge Nismo and sister company Autech (a tuning and conversion operation) into a new company called Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co., Ltd.. The merge was completed on April 1, 2022.[3][4]

Products

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Products include the GT-R, 370Z, Sentra, Frontier, and the Juke Nismo. Soon to be added to the range is the hatchback Nissan Pulsar Nismo and the electric Nissan Leaf[5]

Tuning kits

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Nismo designs and manufactures a range of aftermarket performance parts for Nissan cars including aerodynamics parts such as spoilers and diffusers, alloy wheels, engine and suspension parts. The 2017 Infiniti Q60, being much criticized for its mild exhaust sound, about six months after its introduction had a specially tuned Nismo muffler made available through Infiniti dealers as an aftermarket item.

Most Datsun, Nissan, and Infiniti branded cars have performance parts available from Nismo, either in production or as old stock. For example, Nismo sells parts such as unground cam billets, performance cams, pistons, etc. for the KA24E engine, which was used in the Nissan small pickup truck for several years and also used for the 1989 and 1990 model years of 240SX, a popular car among Import scene enthusiasts (especially Drifters) in North America.

In Japan, the V35 Skyline and Z33 Fairlady have both received several levels of Nismo tuning packages (E-Type, S-Tune, R-Tune, and S1 packages), with a full track spec Fairlady Z debuted at the 2005 Nismo Festival of Speed held at (formerly) Fuji International Raceway.

In February 2007, Nismo announced the launch of the Nismo 380RS. The Nismo 380RS is a factory modified version of the Nissan Z33 Fairlady Z tuned by both Nismo and Autech. Two versions were released, the first was a track-only model called the 380RS-C (C for competition), the second is a street model being sold at Nissan dealers. Both versions use a Nissan VQ series V6 engine, bored and stroked to 3.8L. The track-only 380RS-C makes 400 hp (298 kW), and the street version makes approximately 350 hp (261 kW). The Nismo 380RS was only sold in Japan.

Production cars

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A 2010 Nismo 370Z

The first Nismo-branded car was the 1987 Skyline R31 GTS-R Group A evolution special limited to 823 examples. This was followed by the 1990 Skyline GT-R Nismo of which only 560 were produced. Both cars featured weight-saving, aerodynamic, performance and reliability improvements necessary for the rigours of Group A competition.

The next Nismo release was the Skyline GT-R R34 'Z-Tune'. Intended to celebrate the 2005 20th anniversary of Nismo, the 2003 cancellation of R34 production meant that Nismo was only able to create 20 cars, all based on second-hand V.spec units purchased back from customers with less than 30,000 km on the odometer. The Z Tune sold for ¥17,745,000 (US$146,600, as of December 7, 2005) in Japan. However, the parts-conversion version, where the customer's Skyline GT-R's become the base car, sells for ¥13,125,000 (US$108,500, as of December 7, 2005). Due to rarity the GT-R Z-tune can exceed US$500,000 in the car market[citation needed]. The engine is an RB28DETT Z2 (a normal GT-R engine with a stroked displacement of 2.8 liters & Nismo parts designed specifically for the Z2). The car weighs 1,600 kg (3,527 lb).

 
A 2015 Nismo GT-R

Nismo was also responsible for the R33 Skyline 400R and S14 Silvia 270R models. Both featured comprehensive modifications to the drivetrain, suspension, brakes, chassis, and aero work. Very limited numbers of both models were sold in 1997, and both command high resale prices even today. These models stressed Nismo's link to street car tuning, and were developed (as was the Z-Tune GT-R) at their Chiba City tuning garage. Nismo street tuned vehicles have been sold at Nissan dealerships for years, and come with full warranties. Nismo also produced 21 versions of the Pulsar GTi-R, essentially these cars contained all of the NISMO Group N parts available at the time in a fully built car.

List of Nismo-branded consumer vehicles

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Base Model Nismo Model Production Years
350Z Nismo 350Z[6] 2004–2008
370Z Nismo 370Z[6] 2009–2020
GT-R GT-R Nismo[6] 2014–present
Juke Juke Nismo[6] 2013–2017
Micra March Nismo 2013–present
Note Note Aura Nismo 2014–present
Patrol Patrol Nismo 2010–present (Middle East only)
Sentra Sentra Nismo 2017–2019
Silvia Nismo 270R 1994
Skyline GT-R Skyline GT-R Nismo[6] 1989–1994
Skyline Skyline Nismo 2023–present
Ariya Ariya Nismo 2024–present

Japanese Grand Prix

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In the 1960s, Nissan competed in the Japanese Grand Prix sports car race.

IMSA GT Championship

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A Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed
 
The Clayton Cunningham Racing 300ZX which won the 1994 24 Hours of Daytona.

Nissan joined the IMSA GT Championship in 1979, where it competed in the GT classes with the 240SX, 280ZX and 300ZX. From 1985 to 1993, they entered the main GTP class with the GTP ZX-Turbo and NPT-90. Geoff Brabham won four GTP drivers championships with Nissan from 1988 to 1991, and the manufacturer won the 1992 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1989, 1990 and 1991 12 Hours of Sebring.

World Sports Prototype Championship

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The Nissan R88C being displayed at the Nismo Motorsport Facility at the Suzuka International Racing Course in 2012.
 
The Nissan R89C which won the 1989 24 Hours of Fuji and is currently being displayed at Nissan's Omori Factory
 
A Nissan R90CK at DAMC 05 Oldtimer Festival Nürburgring in June 2007.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Nissan raced at the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans with sports prototypes such as the R88C, R89C, R90C and R391. They claimed the 1990, 1991 and 1992 JSPC titles, but they never won at Le Mans. Notable Nissan drivers in this era include Masahiro Hasemi, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Masahiko Kageyama and Toshio Suzuki.

Touring Car Racing

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The CALSONIC R32 GT-R from the Group A series

In the 1980s, the manufacturer entered the Fuji Grand Champion Series with Group 5 Bluebird, Skyline and Silvia silhouettes and the Japanese Touring Car Championship with production Skyline models. In the 1990s, Nissan competed in Supertouring championships around the world with the Nissan Primera, winning the 1999 British Touring Car Championship with Laurent Aïello.

Supercars Championship

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From 2013 onwards Nissan competed in the Supercars Championship with Kelly Racing fielding four Nissan Altimas. The factory backing concluded at the end of 2018, although the Altimas continued to be privately entered in 2019.[7]

International GT Racing

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A Nissan GT-R entered by Sumo Power GT in the FIA GT1 World Championship
 
Alex Buncombe, Katsumasa Chiyo and Wolfgang Reip won the Series Championship in a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3.

In 2009, Nissan entered the FIA GT1 World Championship with a Nismo-developed Nissan GT-R. Krumm and Lucas Luhr were 2011 drivers champions. Since 2011, Nismo has produced the GT-R GT3, which has competed in the Blancpain Endurance Series. Nismo has also developed production class Nissan GT-R cars for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

They also have a pool of drivers, known as the Nismo Global Driver Exchange. This allows factory drivers the chance to race in big events such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, the 24 Hours of Dubai and the Bathurst 12 Hour.

Prototype racing

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The No. 23 Nissan GT-R LM Nismo at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans

Nissan's first LMP1 Hybrid which was unsuccessful and caused Nissan and Nismo to withdraw Le Mans entirely.

From 2011 to 2016, Nissan was involved in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series as a LMP2 engine supplier. They have had success with Greaves Motorsport, Signature Team, OAK Racing, TDS Racing, G-Drive Racing and SMP Racing. In 2017, Nissan entered the DPi class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Extreme Speed Motorsports.

Nissan announced in June 2014, that Nismo will enter the LMP1 category to fight for the FIA World Endurance Championship against Audi, Toyota and Porsche.[8] Following a disappointing performance in the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, the program's remaining schedule in 2015 was pushed back, with the team intending a regular rebut in the 2016 season;[9] however on 22 December 2015, Nissan announced that it was shuttering the program altogether.[10]

Formula E

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In the inaugural season of Formula E, DAMS (as e.dams) partnered with sister company Renault to form Team e.dams Renault, where they became the first Formula E Team's Champion. At the end of the 2017-18 season, Renault decided to focus on Formula One with Nissan taking over Renault's place in the partnership with e.dams to form Nissan e.dams for the 2018-19 season.[11] In April 2022, Nissan announced the acquisition of the e.dams race team and entered the 2022-23 season as Nissan Formula E Team.[12]

Current teams

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Super GT

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GT500

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GT300

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FIA Formula E

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  • Nissan Formula E Team

Current factory drivers

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Racing results

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Formula E

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

2017–18: Renault e.dams
Year Chassis Powertrain Tyres No. Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points T.C.
Nissan e.dams
2018–19 Spark SRT05e Nissan IM01 M ADR MRK SCL MEX HKG SYX RME PAR MCO BER BRN NYC 190 4th
22   Oliver Rowland 7 15 Ret 20† Ret 2 6 12 2 8 Ret 14 6
23   Sébastien Buemi 6 8 Ret 21† Ret 8 5 15 5 2 3 1 3
2019–20 Spark SRT05e Nissan IM02 M DIR SCL MEX MRK BER BER BER 167 2nd
22   Oliver Rowland 4 5 17 7 9 14 7 6 5 1 Ret
23   Sébastien Buemi Ret 12 13 3 4 7 2G 11 3 10 3G
2020–21 Spark SRT05e Nissan IM02
Nissan IM03 		M DIR RME VLC MCO PUE NYC LDN BER BER 97 10th
22   Oliver Rowland 6 7 12G 16 DSQ 4 6 DSQ 3 7 19 DSQ 18 13 2
23   Sébastien Buemi 13 Ret 5 10 Ret 11 11 DSQ 14 6G 15 DSQ 13 11 14
2021–22 Spark SRT05e Nissan IM03 M DIR MEX RME MCO BER JAK MRK NYC LON SEO 36 9th
22   Maximilian Günther 12 14 9 Ret 11 17 18 16 14 Ret 12 DSQ 8 15 11 Ret
23   Sébastien Buemi 17 13 8 16 9 8 14 14 11 16 5 13 11 6 Ret 9
Nissan Formula E Team
2022–23 Formula E Gen3 Nissan e-4ORCE 04 H MEX DIR HYD CPT SPL BER MCO JAK PRT RME LDN 95 7th
17   Norman Nato Ret 12 14 7 8 Ret 13 16 18 12 5 9 7 2 8 4
23   Sacha Fenestraz 15 17 8 12 NC Ret 12 11 4 19 4 15 10 16 Ret 15
2023–24 Formula E Gen3 Nissan e-4ORCE 04 H MEX DIR SAP TOK MIS MCO BER SHA POR LDN 182 4th
22   Oliver Rowland 11 13 3 3 2 1 Ret 6 3 3 4 10 WD WD 15 1
  Caio Collet 18 16
23   Sacha Fenestraz 12 Ret 6 11 11 9 5 8 9 Ret 11 14 15 18 14 15
Notes
  • G – Driver was fastest in group qualifying stage and was given one championship point.
  • † – Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
  • * – Season still in progress.

World Endurance Championship

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(Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. Rounds Pts. Pos.
SIL
  		SPA
  		LMS
  		NÜR
  		COA
  		FUJ
  		SHA
  		BHR
 
2015 Nissan Motorsports LMP1   Tsugio Matsuda
  Lucas Ordóñez
  Mark Shulzhitskiy 		21 Ret 0 NC
  Harry Tincknell
  Alex Buncombe
  Michael Krumm 		22 NC
  Max Chilton
  Jann Mardenborough
  Olivier Pla 		23 Ret

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "NISMO Heritage: A History of Maverick Engineering in Motorsports and Attainable Performance" (Press release). US: Newsroom. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Konami. Enthusia Professional Racing (Sony PlayStation 2). Konami. Level/area: Library→Maker Profiles.
  3. ^ "Nissan to establish new vehicle customization and motorsports company" (Press release). Nissan. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. ^ "NISMOとオーテックが統合！！日産が特装・モータースポーツの新会社を設立" [Nismo and Autech to be integrated! Nissan to establish new specially-equipped and motorsports vehicle company]. Moby (in Japanese). 17 December 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  5. ^ "2018 Nissan Leaf first drive review". 6 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e Multiple Nismo versions were produced, each with different names.
  7. ^ Official: Nissan to Quit Supercars Auto Action 15 May 2018
  8. ^ Motown, India (29 June 2014). "Interview with Darren Cox Director Global Motorsport Nissan". Motown India. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  9. ^ Dagys, John (1 October 2015). "Nissan LMP1 delayed until 2016; new team principal announced". Fox Sports. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  10. ^ Pruett, Marshall (22 December 2015). "Nissan Fired Its Le Mans Team Over E-Mail". Road & Track. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Nissan to replace Renault in Formula E". Reuters. 25 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Nissan acquires e.dams race team" (Press release). Japan: Nissan. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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