Stock GTR to enter N'ring 24hr

[Deckhook]

Nissan has announced their GT-R Development Team will contest this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours race in Germany with a production-version GT-R (Club Track Edition). Nissan says the reason for this is to collect data which will be used to improve the GT-R as it evolves over the next five years.
That sounds nice, but who are they trying to fool? This is about bragging rights.
Reading between the lines of a press statement, it says, "Nissan will assess its endurance capability in the toughest environment (24 hour race) at the world's toughest circuit (Nordschleife) against strong competitors-European sports/super
car
manufacturers' factory racing cars."
Nissan wants to see if they can embarrass the competition running race prepped
vehicles
as opposed to their "off the showroom floor" GT-R.
Even in the single press image that was attached to this announcement, the GT-R is not prominently shown but instead a shot of the local heros from the N24 last year.
Racing at the Nurburgring 24H last year for the first time, a race prepped GT-R by Schulze Motorsport won the SP 8T class and finished 36th overall.
This year the Nurburgring 24 Hours takes place from May 17-20.

Standard production Nissan GT-R to compete in Nurburgring 24 Hours

 

[Deckhook]

This year's race will be very interesting indeed me thinks.

 

[Guibo]

This is indeed an interesting development to this year's race. I take some issue with that World Car Fans interpretation of Nissan's intent, however. Nissan's official press release is pretty modest.

Nissan GT-R Development Team To Compete in the 24 Hours Nurburgring

Nissan is racing with the production-version GT-R (Club Track Edition) at Nurburgring from May 17-20. Nissan will assess its endurance capability in the toughest environment (24 hour race) at the world's toughest circuit (Nordschleife) against strong competitors-European sports/super car manufacturers' factory racing cars. All data and information obtained through this participation will then be utilized for development and to further improve the GT-R's future year models.

That car is not exactly like most any GT-R you will find "off the showroom floor." I hope they finish well, and the passion for the car and racing is evident throughout the team.

 

[Deckhook]

Is this 'Club Track Edition' a Japanese customer only edition?

 

[Guibo]

Is this 'Club Track Edition' a Japanese customer only edition?

According to the link at World Car Fans, that's correct.

"Japanese-market only GT-R Track Club Edition literally requires a club membership to the Prestige Club of GT-R

Look but you can't touch - unless you're in Japan.
This Japanese market-only Track Club Edition of the Nissan GT-R is a joint project by Nissan, its motor-sport division NISMO, NOVA Engineering and Nordring tuning.
The Track Club Edition GT-R will sell for ¥10,479,000 ($120,725/€92,205) but that is just for starters. To be part of the club, the Prestige Club of GT-R that is, requires an additional membership fee of 2 million yen ($23,024/€17,598). And don't forget to keep up with your annual dues, which amount to another ¥1 million ($11,513/€8,800) yearly."

2011 Nissan GT-R Track Club Edition launched

Various sites indicate it's not street legal, so the odds of seeing this in a showroom even in Japan are about as good as seeing a GT3 Cup or Viper Competition Coupe sitting on a showroom floor (next to zero).