Nissan unveiled its definitive 2023 GT4 racecar at the recent SEMA show. Developed by the Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports and Customizing Co Ltd (NMC), the base is the latest Nissan Z model. NMC’s NISMO division has not only tested this new GT4 extensively but also raced the prototype in this year’s Fuji 24 Hours.

The new Z model is powered by the VR30DDTT engine. Available since late 2015, it is manufactured at Nissan’s Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan powertrain plant. Designed for the road rather than racing, it is a direct injected 60 degree V6 with four valves per cylinder operated by chain driven twin overhead camshafts.

Unusually this engine is square: the bore and stroke are both 86 mm for a displacement of 2997 cc. It has aluminium heads and block, the latter notably compact partly due to being linerless, using a plasma-sprayed bore coating.

The VR30DDTT was designed from the outset to be turbo-supercharged. It is boosted by twin turbos, one per bank. To minimise weight the turbines are integrated with the respective exhaust manifold. The first part of the exhaust manifold is cast aluminium merged into the head and the turbine housing bolts directly to that.

The wastegates are electronically actuated while each compressor feeds through its own air: water charge cooler. The intake and lower sump are both composite items again to minimise weight. The oil pump has an electronically controlled variable displacement.

The stock engine outputs 400 bhp at 6400 rpm with maximum torque of 475 Nm from 1600 through to 5200 rpm. Subject to Balance of Performance, the breathed-upon GT4 engine’s output is provisionally 450 bhp with 600 Nm torque.

For the 2023 season Nissan/NISMO will provide cars to selected customer teams contesting the SRO Pirelli GT4 America series and Japan’s Super Taikyu Series. NISMO will offer technical support to all those teams. The car will be available for general customer sale in time for the 2024 season.