Porsche accuses Nissan GT-R of cheating the 'Ring
Click above for high-res gallery of the Nissan GT-R
Sour grapes or legitimate complaint? That's the question we're left pondering after reading that Porsche believes Nissan must have cheated to record its 7:29:03 lap time of the famed Nürburgring race circuit. Porsche claims that it had been suspicious of the Nissan's lap times, so it acquired a U.S.-spec GT-R for testing back-to-back with its own 911 Turbo and GT2. The result? The mighty Godzilla was toppled by the Teutonic German duo, with the GT-R posting times a good 25-seconds slower than Nissan's claim.
How can Porsche explain the discrepancy? "This wonder car with 7:29 could not have been a regular series production car. For us, it's not clear how this time is possible. What we can imagine with this Nissan is they used other tires," says August Achleitner, the man in charge of the 911 program. There is footage of the GT-R lapping the 'Ring at high speed, but it's taken from inside the car where the tires cannot be seen.
Considering the fact that Nissan saw fit to issue a press release commemorating the car's fast-lap, we doubt this is something that will be taken lightly. There's a big can 'o worms here, and Porsche's in the corner holding the opener.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R
[Source: Carsguide]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)
Pete 9:11AM (9/30/2008)
Excellent! Nissan fan boys line up and start crying...fight!@
Reply
tenfifteen 9:11AM (9/30/2008)
Uh-oh. Hope the server's up to snuff. You're about to get inundated.
Reply
Mark 10:45AM (9/30/2008)
Flak Jacket....check
Flame suit.....check
ZR1 reference....check
xpolarx 12:29PM (9/30/2008)
I don't want to step out of line here...I know how much empty speculation means to a lot of people here. But, you know, maybe Porsche and Nissan could meet at the 'ring -- Porsche with their cars and Nissan with its car -- and actually test their cars...together. I know it's a really odd concept, but work with me here.
Porsche brings the 911 Turbo, GT3 and GT2
Nissan brings the GTR
Mechanics from Porsche get to inspect the GTR
Mechanics from Nissan get to inspect the Turbo, GT3 and GT2
Once everyone is satisfied, each car gets 3-laps on the 'ring. Toshio Suzuki drives the Nissan and Walter Rohrl drives the Porsches.
With the best of three laps recorded for each car, they can put this stupid flame war to rest.
Now, Autoblog, you're responsible for promoting this idea through the channels of automotive journalists so we can put pressure on the manufacturers to make this a reality. Get to it!
Russell 1:34PM (9/30/2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYvLIeVIV9M
Russell 1:41PM (9/30/2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYvLIeVIV9M
meshies 2:16PM (9/30/2008)
HA! As soon as I saw '147 comments' I said to myself, "oh sh!t here we go"
Russell 3:44PM (9/30/2008)
Sorry for double post, just adding fuel to the fire.
Randy 4:24PM (9/30/2008)
I can't even think of anything to say! I just wanted to be part of the post! LOL This is big! Very Big!
Including yourself when you've got nothing to offer? - CHECK ;)
john 6:34PM (9/30/2008)
Since when did the nurburgring become an graduate degree? All I hear is boo hoo from porshe. Why don't they come up with a new chasis and a different look for all their cars instead of whining who's your daddy on the ring. Bitch slap on porshe.
Pengwin 6:50PM (9/30/2008)
GT-R is faster, porsche needs to get over it
Smeagle 7:16PM (9/30/2008)
xpolarx: I dont think Porsche would agree to that somehow.
Dave 7:52PM (9/30/2008)
Its a shame Porsche wasnt represented in C/D's VIR runs while the GTR was:
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/25/car-and-driver-runs-this-years-lightning-lap-at-vir/
catgirlshyla 4:55AM (10/01/2008)
Porsche should've contested the Corvette. Better target.
jeune 10:34PM (10/07/2008)
follow up story on carsguide
http://carsguide.news.com.au/site/motoring-news/story/nissan_hits_back_at_porsche_cheat_claim/
mikesright 9:12AM (9/30/2008)
If this is true (which it probably is-Nissan has been caught cheating before), then the ZR1 beats the GTR by almost 30 seconds around the Nuremburgring, and the Z06 would be faster around the 'ring as well.
Reply
BigMcLargeHuge 9:20AM (9/30/2008)
Which only an idiot would claim since the Z06 has gotten its ass handed to it in every test since the stupid King-of-the-Ring competition began.
Eddy Alvarez 10:57AM (9/30/2008)
@BigMcLargeHugenuggets
thats so untrue.
z06 ring times were done with an 06 (many parts improved since then including struts and tranny)
and it was done from a standing start.
BigMcLargeHuge 12:26PM (9/30/2008)
Its so not true. I was referring to all the other tests on other tracks.
Aside from the 1/4-mile, there is no evidence ANYWHERE that the Z06 can keep up with the GT-R.
Where's the evidence that the Z06 did it from a standing start? I'll bet thats an internet rumor.
BigMcLargeHuge 9:12AM (9/30/2008)
Shocking that Porsche would win while driving the 3 cars.
Reply