Nissan R390 GT1 (1997)

The Nissan R390 GT1, unveiled in 1997, stands as one of the most compelling examples of a homologation concept car ever created. Developed with a singular purpose — to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans — the R390 was a road-legal supercar engineered almost entirely as a platform for racing. Unlike most concept cars focused on futuristic design, this one was born from function: a car that legally bridged the gap between road and track, built to satisfy the FIA GT1 regulations of its era.

History

In the mid-to-late 1990s, GT1 racing rules required that manufacturers produce at least one street-legal version of their competition car. This led to the creation of ultra-exclusive homologation specials like the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, Porsche 911 GT1, and Toyota GT-One. Nissan, with a growing desire to return to endurance racing glory, entered the scene with the R390 GT1.

Developed in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) in the UK, the R390 project leveraged experience from previous Jaguar XJR-15 and XJR-9 Le Mans programs. TWR handled chassis design and aerodynamics, while Nissan focused on engine development and final tuning. The result was a carbon-fiber monocoque, mid-engine supercar with extreme performance and serious Le Mans intentions.

To meet homologation rules, Nissan created a single road-legal version of the R390 GT1 in 1997. Painted red and featuring a “short tail” rear design, it was publicly shown and registered for road use. However, before the 1998 season, this exact car was reworked by Nissan: the rear was redesigned into a "long tail" configuration to improve high-speed stability and cooling, and the car was repainted blue. Mechanically and structurally, it remained the same — the transformation was cosmetic and aerodynamic, and it was still the one and only R390 GT1 road car ever built.

Design Features

The R390 GT1 was designed to comply with both road and racing regulations, but every inch of its bodywork reflected its competition roots. The low-slung, aerodynamic form included a long, flat nose with integrated splitter, sculpted side intakes, and — after 1998 — a more aggressive long tail with improved rear cooling and downforce.

The original “short tail” version featured twin rounded tail lights and a relatively clean rear deck. The “long tail” revision introduced new rear openings, an extended tail section, and a more planted stance, closer to the racing configuration used at Le Mans in 1998.

The interior, though slightly refined for road homologation, remained function-first: leather seats, minimal trim, and analog instrumentation. There was air conditioning, but luxury was clearly not the point.

Specs

At its core, the R390 GT1 housed a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the VRH35L, derived from Nissan’s Group C racing program. Mounted longitudinally in a mid-rear position, this engine produced around 345 horsepower in road spec — though race versions exceeded 500 hp depending on configuration.

Performance highlights included:

0–100 km/h in under 4 seconds
Top speed of over 340 km/h (211 mph)
6-speed sequential transmission
Carbon-fiber monocoque chassis
Curb weight of approximately 1,100 kg

Suspension used a double-wishbone setup all around. While the race version was equipped with carbon brakes, the street version likely used high-performance steel discs for practicality and regulation compliance.

Production Status

Only one street-legal Nissan R390 GT1 was ever produced. Initially shown in red with a short tail, it was later converted into the blue long-tail configuration used for Le Mans 1998 homologation. That one-of-a-kind example is preserved at Nissan's Zama Heritage Collection in Japan and is not registered for public road use today.

In competition, the R390 GT1 raced at Le Mans in 1997 and 1998. While 1997 saw reliability issues, the 1998 race marked a success: the R390 GT1 finished third overall, behind two Porsche 911 GT1s, achieving Nissan’s best Le Mans result up to that point. After that, changing regulations ended the GT1 class and the R390 program.

Though short-lived, the R390 GT1 remains a symbol of a golden age in endurance racing and a technical precursor to future Nissan performance icons, including the GT-R.

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