http://www.scca.com/Pro/Pro.asp

Whoa...

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MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 15, 2006) – Bringing the Nissan Skyline GT-R to a North American road racing series for the first time ever, AutomotiveForums.com has announced its entry into the 2006 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship.

The team, based in the Los Angeles area, is preparing to make its debut March 15-17 at Sebring International Raceway, in Sebring, Fla., where SPEED World Challenge will begin its 17th season.

The Skyline GT-R is a front-engine, all-wheel drive, two-door coupe, and with deep technical support from Skyline GT-R teams from both Japan and around the world, the AutomotiveForums.com team expects to be competitive right out of the box.

“We are excited to have an opportunity to finally campaign the GT-R, a car with rich Japanese motorsports history, stateside against the likes of the Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911,” Crew Chief Sean Morris said. “We have been working toward this goal for quite some time.”

Making his SPEED World Challenge GT debut along with the car, Igor Sushko, 20, will pilot the GT-R.

And though another driver has not yet been announced, the AutomotiveForums.com team has reserved two numbers, 69 and 70, with plans of adding a second GT-R to the roster later in the season.

The 2006 SPEED World Challenge GT schedule could not be more perfect, giving the team an opportunity to contend at a variety of circuits and street course venues across the country alongside the American Le Mans Series, Indy Racing League, Champ Car, and NASCAR Nextel Cup.

“As the product planner of the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, this car and its heritage have a paramount place in my heart,” Hiroshi Tamura said. “I am very excited to finally see the GT-R compete in a United States championship series.

“I am fully confident in Igor and his team's ability to make the GT-R community around the world proud and we wish them good luck.”

Associate and technical sponsors for this effort include Rays Engineering, Mackin Industries, Tilton Engineering and Brembo, with further support to be announced shortly.

Launched in November of 2000, AutomotiveForums.com is today a leader in connecting the auto enthusiasts via the Internet. Currently, more than 435,000 members enjoy AutomotiveForums, with 500 new users signing up daily.

 

Yeah, saw that a few days ago. Curious why they are using this car. Doesn't seem like they will have factory support either. It will probably run in the back of the field.

 

Hopefully I'll get to see them run at Mid-Ohio or Mosport this year.

 

Hopefully I'll get to see the pics you took at Mid-Ohio or Mosport this year.

 

For sure!

 

I really wanted to go to an ALMS race this year but the two closest to me (Road America & Mid-Ohio) both fall smack in the middle of two of my busiest times of the year at work.

 

Sounds like a good excuse for a road trip to Toronto in September.

 

srry but this news is just about a year old... some new pics and info in your link though, I give you that much.

http://www.automotivearticles.com/sk...hallenge.shtml

 

oh yea - the car looks hot, can't wait to see it in action. I hope it murdalizes the competition.

 

Doubtful. This R34 is going to be run by amateurs. It's hard to see them as a threat to the factory supported teams.

 

Pffft. It may be a year late...but, it ain't a repost. So, you can't lock it.

 

well anyway... I still hope they do well.

 

That's kind of the good and bad with the Speed series races now. It's good to see them become more professional in skill, but it also has now become a series that is a little out of reach for the privateers that aren't well-supported.

Then again, back in the day of the cheaper-investment-to-run days of the Speedvision series (before the name change), Realtime Racing (or really Peter Cunningham, single-handedly) killed everyone anyway.

I still like to see the little guys make an impact in their own special way. Let's see if they can actually make it through the season and finish some races. That's about the best one can hope for when you aren't factory-sponsored.

 

hey when does AcuraZine sponser a NSX-R?

you know with Soopa behind the wheel...

 

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

 

Excuse me, but it'll be me behind the wheel.
Soopa can be my sidekick in the less superior NSX-R.

 

I guess I would be the guy for the job rather than Soopa.

Me and the DAL Motorsports #51 NSX.

 

nice... also i see plenty of room on that car for some of those AcuraZine stickers that are floating around...

 

cool - do you drive that car too? got any more pix/links?