Is it still possible to run Supra MKIV in ALMS GT class?

[awegrzyn]

I wonder if it's possible and would it still make sense to run the Toyota Supra MKIV in the ALMS GT class.

How did it do in the 90's? Any ideas?

Andrzej

[Fogelhund]

The Toyota Supra ran at LM in 1995 and 1996 in the GT1 class. It finished 14th in 1995, and was a DNF in 96' by Toyota Factory SARD effort.

In 95' it qualified 31st, can't seem to find out much more then that.

http://chbastin.free.fr/archives/199...sc91toyo27.jpg

[gttouring]

the toyota supra, the last production model from Japan can be run in ALMS- the last US (where ALMS is based of course) model was in 1998 so it is now out of eligibility. If toyota made the Supra into 2000 I would think a model is indeed eligible, as the run for a car is what 5 years? or less to run as a GT. It would Kick some serious if the TT supra came in and played up GT a bit. For that matter where are the Nismo nissan 350Z's that where supposed to come and race? at 75,000- 80,000 US for a 350Z race prepped challenger i would think this was the steal of the century (i do think it is rated at 475hp in this trim.)

[Fogelhund]

Originally posted by gttouring
For that matter where are the Nismo nissan 350Z's that where supposed to come and race? at 75,000- 80,000 US for a 350Z race prepped challenger i would think this was the steal of the century (i do think it is rated at 475hp in this trim.)

Nissan USA refused to foot the bill for their development, and it died there. I'm not sure where you came up with that price, but it is wildly optimistic for a car to compete at ACO GT level.

[awegrzyn]

What do you mean GT1? Was is directly competing with the Porsche GT1? They were totally different cars, unless I don't understand how the GT1 class worked back then. To me it seems like a regular GT car.

[Fogelhund]

Yes, it was in the GT1 class. Yes it competed against the Porsche GT1. This was basically a JGTC car converted to GT1 rules, and theoretically should have been very competitive. This was by no means a tweaked road car.

[awegrzyn]

That was crazy and not fair. How could they compete in the same category, just look at them. They are totally different. I owned both of them, so I know they could not tweak the Supra to be like the Porsche GT1. Maybe horsepower wise, but that's all.

[Fogelhund]

You owned a Porsche GT1, and a JGTC Supra?

[Pilgrimage]

Originally posted by Fogelhund
You owned a Porsche GT1, and a JGTC Supra?

Nice cars to own!!???

[KA]

Originally posted by awegrzyn
That was crazy and not fair. How could they compete in the same category, just look at them. They are totally different. I owned both of them, so I know they could not tweak the Supra to be like the Porsche GT1. Maybe horsepower wise, but that's all.

The GT1 Supra was a very different animal to the production Supra- the biggest difference was that it used a totally different engine (the 2.1 litre turbo 4-cylinder used in Toyota's IMSA/Group C prototype programmes in the late 80's/early 90's).

Being adapted from the JGTC car, I'm guesing it wouldn't have been possible to adapt it to the GT2 class regs and run as a 'regular GT car'- at a guess the engine swap would have been a major issue.

[GeorgeA]

The Supras were also much, much heaver than the more extreme GT1 cars; 1100 kilos if I recall correctly. After two unsatisfying attempts by both Nissan and Toyota with JGTC Skylines and Supras, respectively, each company made the decision to go for a dedicated Le Mans GT1, resulting in the R390 and TS020 programs. (Toyota made a slight detour with the 1997 LMP1 project, but chose to shelve that car and build the GT-One.)

As an aside, Tony Southgate designed a R390 follow-on for TWR that was supposed to "out-GT-One the GT-One" in terms of rules-bending and radical design features. Has anyone ever seen this design?

[gttouring]

where you came up with that price, but it is wildly optimistic for a car to compete at ACO GT level. "
Right you are! i was 200,000 shy of the number (guess i forgot) it is still well under GT costs however- at $250,000 US. http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....article_id=381
it was in "road & track" when the Nissan 350Z (nismo fairlady Z33) "It tips the scales at a lean 2420 lb. The engine has been bored to 3.6 liters, resulting in a huge bump in horsepower. Sources say it cranks out 450 bhp"
It is a clear match for Ferrari and the Porsche RSR so who isn't buying?

[billnchristy]

Supposedly Nissan is content supporting club and SWC racers. I find this hard to believe, but maybe they have a different vision of the future...

As for the 390 successor, Not the 391 I hope, the chopped top "LMP" version? right?

[awegrzyn]

BTW, that R390 was beautiful.

[Fogelhund]

Thing is, Nissan DIDN'T decide to build it. As mentioned above, Nissan USA would not foot the bill.

[GeorgeA]

Re: R391, that was the open-top, low-cost prototype program using the R390 V-8, which itself was derived from the last Nissan Group C V-8. The Southgate design I was referring to was a closed-cockpit GT1 that was executed under TWR's ageis and became redundant when Nissan terminated its relationship with TWR after the 1998 LM 24 hrs.

Nissan USA had second thoughts about developing the 350Z for ALMS, but it's full steam ahead for Nissan corporate in Japan, which is preparing both GT300 and GT500 variants for the JGTC in 2004. The GT300 ran in 2003 as well.

[nsxr]

the Z showed what its got it won the gt300 class its its debut year. Nissan usa sucks they should run it here if not in alms then swc gt at least come