When Nissan Went Mad

Motorsport isn’t rational. There’s no fundamentally good reason to race fast cars around loops of varying size and complexity. But its exciting. It’s exciting to race, it’s exciting to have a chance at glory, a chance to be the best. It’s easy therefore to understand why passionate drivers are compelled to race, but what compels a company?
This is the story of Nissan's Group C / GTP efforts in Japan's JSPC, Europe's WEC and the North American IMSA series.
Written by: Fred Knight
Edited by: JD Minny ( @jdminny )
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Sources: drive.google.com/drive/folder...

[@daltoncole342]

As someone who loves history in general and getting into motorsport in the last few years (other than street racing). I absolutely love hearing about cars, drivers and series otherwise not talked about.

[@javidaderson]

It's actually insanely impressive that the onboard footage kept rolling, VHS is notoriously fickle.

[@gustiwidyanta5492]

I dont think they will use VHS for onboard footage, i think they will use a more robust tape format lol

[@Henriette187]

Interesting point, but wouldn’t the onboard be directly transmitted and recorded elsewhere? Like the video signal gets taken from the camera, and then sent to the transmission centre or whatever where they chose what to broadcast. So I do not really know if the recording takes place in the car. Has anyone more information on that?

[@gustiwidyanta5492]

@@Henriette187 i have been trying to get some good info but none of the websites have good answers.

[@Mad_Martigen]

I love the red, white and blue liveries of Nissan's Group C fleet.

[@Rich77UK]

As timeless as Silk cut Jags and Rothmans Porsche imho.

[@RailsofForney]

Ironic…

[@Dre_The_Millennial]

36:45 Absolutely terrifying onboard.

[@axemangt]

I love Group C! You're the only youtuber I can rely on you to upload videos about my favorite racing category!

[@bzilla1090]

Adin Millward has some great videos as well for all of the Championships. group c, group B and A rallying, F1 from the 60's-current, BTCC, WTCC, DTM, really great info. He also streams his E-sports racing league he is a part of.

[@thato9212]

Bro you are the best racing historian

[@JK061996]

I didn't know about the Group C Skyline, it looked awesome

[@FlyinBlaney]

I like the fact that this channel focuses more on the cars, rather than only the drivers and teams as all others do! Very good video as usual!

[@IDKarlos_]

Cool to see a dive into some lesser known racing history like this! Just to add to it, Nissan did start developing a car for the 3.5l Group C rules during 1991, NISMO designed a new V12 engine for it and NPTI did the chassis. They ended up with 2 versions of the car that started testing during 1992, the P35 was NPTIs version that apparently had a really good chassis and aero, but the engine NISMO sent them was really underpowered. Then NISMO made their own version back in Japan called the NP35 that seemed to have a better engine but a worse chassis. NISMO ran their car in one JSPC race then cancelled the project cos money.

[@amaccama3267]

Fun fact. Anders Olaffson raced here in Australia for the factory Nissan touring car team. Did a bloody good job, too. Also, thanks for the amazing video. As a life long Nissan/Datsun fan this was freaking awesome.

[@safeasf_uck7020]

You are literally the best content creator when it comes to history about motorsport.

[@_Bife]

This is indisputably the best automotive channel on any platform. What a lad.

[@rufctr3]

You killed it with the Audio editing, I was getting spine chills out of excitement whenever there was a transition. Awesome stuff mate!

[@Rich77UK]

I LOVE group C. Yes, even today. Its still great watching.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

The awkward moment when the fastest car in Gran Turismo history was in reality “aight”.

[@GeneralCodeBlue]

Just wait for the 787B episode.

[@Mesder13]

Hey, it at least did better than the Toyota 88C-V, one of the most iconic cars from GT4, which entered 3 races and finished... 1: DNF 2: Last 3: Last and second-to-last

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

@@GeneralCodeBlue oh boy, then it’ll be time to roast a sacred cow.

[@JontysCorner]

For ONCE, thank you algorithm! Love coming across well made motorsport history channels. That's my binge watching set for the week.

[@nigeljames1109]

Great video BUT you missed a couple of things. Firstly Nissan did build a 3.5 litre car, the P35 with a v12 engine. It was a total failure. Second you missed the 2 huge crashes of the NPT 92/92 at Road Atlanta in '93 which effectively ended the whole NPT racing effort.

[@automobilistic]

You're right I missed the P35! Frustratingly I didn't see it in the Mine 500 entry list and unfortunately didn't double check. RE: NPTI; its my understanding that NPTI closed up shop in 1992, with Momo fielding a single car NPT-90 entrant in 1993. By the time of the crashes in practice and the race at Road Atlanta in 1992 (the last year NPTI were active as far as I can tell) it seemed from what I read that NPTI had already decided to move on (then folded when the NP35 plans fell apart). Assuming you're referring to the 1992 accidents I'm not sure what you mean by "ended the [effort]" - they entered all but 1 of the remaining races that year, am I missing something?

[@Commander-McBragg]

John Morton at Lime Rock! Huge crash.

[@HomeOfMotorsport]

@@automobilisticYou missed another one. Nissan Tame or Nissan Ta-120. I also never heard about this car before but I recorded it last time out at Hockenheim. Apparently there were only 25 cars produced. There is literally no information about this car what so ever on the internet.

[@mlgordita]

Another banger of a video (finally taking this in at length as these should be viewed). Keep it up as these are terrific!

[@Danielpettitphotography]

Videos keep getting better and better, love the longer duration and treating them as proper TV shows now to be watched in the evening

[@yosho43]

love your videos man keep it going

[@tropfen]

Thanks you for keeping these moment of motorsport from being forgotten.

[@intensepar8975]

Great research, presentation, and production quality.

[@r3dpandarecords]

Your research and storytelling abilities are absolutely fantastic, I’m glued to every video you’ve put out

[@brdllc]

Videos keep getting better and better, great info

[@alaricbragg7843]

Thank you for this high quality, well-researched video! 🙂 Great footage and information on an often ignored Group C participant.

[@billyrowland24]

Group C has always had my heart ever since getting a VHS of le mans 88 and Gran Turismo. Love seeing the depth of cars not usually featured.

[@aikotachibana1816]

Another banger of a video dude! You’re super talented and one of my favorite creators on KZbin. Really nice editing and I love the stories! Always makes my day seeing a new automobilistic video pop up!

[@rjung_ch]

I love the topics you bring. I am also impressed by what the Japanese car industry has brought to the world. 👍💪✌️

[@12spies]

These videos are incredibly well produced and i adore them.

[@RobertoVernina]

Amazing job man: your content was already of good quality, but it's improving with each and every video. And the format of this video works very well, so please feel free to keep doing stuff like this!

[@user-uu6hn9te7x]

I would like the videos on this channel to have Japanese subtitles.I don't understand English, but I feel that this channel is what I'm looking for.

[@WBD86]

Thank you this was very good!

[@matsimmo6208]

Great video as always, I know you’ve done the R390 GT1 but I’d love to see it and the R391 covered as in depth as this has been

[@cellss0138]

Fantastic vid, as usual! Now you should do a vid on that DOMINANT Toyota Eagle Mk III

[@Rerags_]

wow, amazing video!

[@JohnCharb87]

Geoff Brabham and the Nissan GTP are a part of IMSA's Hall of Fame. 0:52 Someone on the team most be a fan of The Simpsons. Bart Simpson is on the Headlight cover.

[@yracpontiferous4846]

They did a bunch of different art, including the Ghostbusters logo and Jessica Rabbitt.

[@aesthetics1190]

Cool video and cooler glasses‼️

[@Mtlmshr]

Great video! I got my start in Pro Racing at Electramotive and then NPTI and I’m still working on race cars at 63 years old and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

[@Christoffski]

This channel is excellent. Those cars give goosebumps just by looking at them.

[@cameronbridges912]

What a brilliant video

[@dvill2141]

Loving the Group C videos now. Crazy how they didn’t clean up the first car, shows why we do it nowadays.

[@dylansmith6911]

your editing, in every sense, from choice of video to background music, is absoiutely amazing, you should have 1 million subs atleast. what do you use to edit?

[@randon_play5547]

your videos are perfect

[@exsappermadman25055]

The Porsche and Sauber Mercedes group C cars are the maddest lads of all....

[@bzilla1090]

The best by far

[@MarkWazowski]

got beaten by 787B

[@exsappermadman25055]

@@MarkWazowski Once...

[@Freddy87718]

I love racing history ❤️

[@alexhndr]

R91CP: *Almost killed their drivers* Nissan: "Lets make something better next year." R92CP: *Became a mythical car that claimed "400" down the Fuji straight*

[@legoferrari14]

One thing you failed to note in this video is that Nissan _did_ develop a "C1" class car; the P35 and its Japanese sister the NP35. This Group C car was powered by the VRT35 70-degree 3500cc V12; though the VRT35's engine was *quoted* at 630 Horsepower, it's probable that it was underpowered by about 100 horses. The Japanese-spec NP35 only competed in one race; the 1992 Mine 500km, where it was over 3 seconds off the pace of the leading Toyota TS010. And that's the _entire_ racing history of the P35 family of prototypes; as the American-spec P35 never even got to turn a wheel in anger at an IMSA event as the class was shuttered before the car could compete and NPTI was closed down after an ill-fated Indycar/CART engine program. In 1997 however, John Christie took the #001 chassis P35, swapped out the V12 for a modified production-derived 3.4-litre Ferrari F119 V8 from the 348 road car, converted the chassis to an open-roof and entered the car as the X250 WSC prototype in honour of the 250 employees of NPTI that were laid off following the division's closure. The X250 only entered into two races, and took the start at just one of them; the 1997 12 hours of Sebring. There, it only completed a mere 21 laps before retiring with an electrical failure.

[@yracpontiferous4846]

That Steve Millen crash at Watkins is a rough watch.

[@SpeedBrazilOficial]

Amazing ❤

[@captainsmartass3368]

I absolutely love these videos. I hope that you can do videos rise and fall of Subaru world rally team and Rallirat aka the Mitsubishi world rally team

[@piuthemagicman]

Oh yes we need this! 😋

[@bzilla1090]

It wasn't really a fall, the french just made better cars at that point, causing them to pull out, that and the fact that both Mitsubishi and Subaru were basically bankrupt and would end up in GM and Renault ownership due to the crap road cars they were making.

[@toddthezondalover645]

​@@bzilla1090WRC got rid of homology and basically screwed Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Toyota out of the running

[@bzilla1090]

@@toddthezondalover645 not really, Peugeot, Citroen, Ford and the rest all used road cars. It's not like they didn't the Impreza WRX STI was a road car so no need for homologation, so you want them to get an edge over the competition?, both companies were bankrupt at this point, GM was also running Subaru into the ground, something they still haven't fully recovered from yet. Also Subaru lost Prodrives input, Dave Richards went full on into F1, without Prodrive they were nothing, they were already getting owned anyway. Toyota shouldn't speak about anything, they have a history of cheating in the WRC. Also another thing, these aren't scrubs they went up against, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen are a lot more accomplished than the Japanese in rallying, they're up there with the kings, Lancia. When it comes to Motorsport, you'll usually find a German or an Italian at the top, it's just how it is

[@flameburstgt6503]

I was driving the R92CP in apex racer and suddenly KZbin recommended me this 😂 great video tho

[@azura_2437]

Idea for a future vid, Venturi and the rise of GT1, something like that, to cover BPR etc....after the death of Group C. edit: Your vids are amazing, I really enjoy watching them, I'm a listener normally but I watch your vids, thank you and keep up the amazing work.

[@WorldEngine64]

8:29 I died when he said this

[@jay_cars_story]

Yess on other good automotive story that nissan is beautiful 🎉🎉🎉great job

[@user-sl4hx8vs9w]

Group C cars were so dangerously beautiful

[@yracpontiferous4846]

Nissans in IMSA had a habit of nasty crashes. Similar blowouts at Road Atlanta caused huge incidents. And John Morton pulled a CLR at Lime Rock, going straight into the trees.

[@roelandzw1846]

Not to mention btcc in the 90s

[@bloomazda3]

10:27 on the podium with a cigarette… times sure were different back then!

[@plisskenationbackfromthede3657]

The r30 silhouette will always be my 2nd fav car in gran turismo 2. I still call it the foumula as it was misspelled in game lol. Actually faster than the gt one on a couple tracks

[@AdamTheMan1993]

Nissan did actually build a one-off 3.5L F1-sourced V12 powered Group C car called the NP35 to be used in the WSC for 1993 until Nissan cancelled the project

[@jeremiah8002]

R91cp is cool but I like the R92cp more what are your thoughts

[@redlineplays]

the toyota locking up after the nissan flips💀

[@Chr.Monika6469]

What about the Nissan NP-35?

[@Sennheiserman]

1:36 Is it just me or is it strange why the car behind spin out too?

[@flashthefalcon948]

HE WENT KABOOM

[@Picks_Productions]

Group C rocks, should have teamed up with Can Am lol

[@lewisgilbertson7506]

That crash looked just like guanyu zhous

[@petedude2lu3]

um narrator, the wing was turned 180deg so it lifted instead of pressing.

[@JeffSherlock]

Why am I hearing thi music? What does it have to do with driving any type of car?

[@cool3865]

i dunno the 1985 Riverside crash from a tire blow out to the pit wall was pretty bad and worst

[@fourty9933]

18:42 i see what nissans goal was back there 🤨🤨🤨🤨

[@fairyliquid6864]

9:39 What is that green car? 😮

[@ApexLegends2]

It's probably a Toyota Celica, I could be wrong.

[@window469wow3]

wsg guys

[@311superfly]

Damn dont bother strapping in you will be jumping out soon.

[@ClusterFugue]

What's up with the "Group C" moniker and insanity on four wheels? The world Rally championship circuit had a class by the same name in the 1980s that was so ridiculously overpowered that it was quite short lived, only existing for I believe a couple of seasons at most. It's miraculous that the spike in crashes and fatalities wasn't even more severe, given that a lot of Rally fans are/were seemingly tired of living, literally swarming all over the the entire width of whatever road the race was being run on and only parting like the Red Sea for Moses when a car came through, often well over 100 MPH, usually only missing the dumbest spectators by inches and sometimes not at all. I hope/assume that in the (at time overly) safety conscious world we're living in now, the lunacy of spectators on the racing surface and other idiotic vantage points like on the outside of high speed turns with nothing but air between their bodies and thousands of pounds of race car speeding by, often sideways, is mostly a thing of the past.

[@Chr.Monika6469]

We know, it was the Group B

[@r.u.s.e3586]

Something I don't understand, why would the FIA not like Group C being popular? I'm sorry I'm not familiar with most racing leagues outside of the US and Japan.

[@LurcherVonPapsmear]

Because they didn't want it faster & more exciting than F1...

[@r.u.s.e3586]

​​​@@LurcherVonPapsmearI don't understand why they would care. If they are both under the purview of the FIA why would they want to favor one over the other?

[@LurcherVonPapsmear]

@@r.u.s.e3586 - I suggest you read 'Bernie's Game' 😉

[@Chr.Monika6469]

Bernie Ecclestone didn't want another motorsport to be more popular than F1.

[@r.u.s.e3586]

​@@LurcherVonPapsmearthank you!

[@KeijoKurkkuGaming]

Good video, cool cokehead glasses👍

[@vnitto]

The GT-R at 5:00 looks like an R/C car

[@311superfly]

Electromotive. California USA. Millen. Brabham.

[@Joe2328]

Hunter S Potter

[@samikaipainen8616]

[@paxwallace8324]

Call me a cynic but given the two reasons you just laid out I think greed alway$ wins the day unfortunately. See that's why we can't have nice things. Including Democracy over Oligarchy. Yeah your 2nd reason for the engine restrictions.

[@thelegacyTYT]

Firstttt

[@donmcmahan2920]

1st

[@Commander-McBragg]

What about John Morton’s blow over at Lime Rock? That nearly burned him to death.

[@robertkerr4199]

2:20 "Motorsport isn't rational." I totally disagree. We started racing because we wanted to see how fast the car can go. It makes perfect sense to test the performance capabilities of our technology. Motorsports is about the technology in the car, not the driver. The more we focus on the driver, the less logical motorsport becomes.

[@automobilistic]

All modern racing series are governed by rules designed to provide better entertainment. Machines made to test the limits of our automotive technology exist, and you're right that it can make sense to build them, but they don't race against each other, they exist in test facilities, closed circuits and occasionally on salt flats haha. Motorsport isn't very rational, that doesn't mean it isn't subjectively valuable though (and it does occasionally provide technology that trickles down).

[@MiguelGarcia-vj7oo]

We?? Who do you think your are Norbert Singer??. lmao 🤣 😂

[@dc-vw4qm]

>Motorsport isn’t rational. There’s no fundamentally good reason to race fast cars around loops of varying size and complexity. bruh all racing at its core is R&D, its to research to make better and better cars.

[@automobilistic]

Counter point: its not. Its a nice idea that racing is a test bed for future road car tech, and its certainly true that some road car innovations have their roots in motorsport (more so in the past), but that's not motorsport's purpose, and if it was, its extremely bad at it. All major racing series today employ strict regulation of the cars, some even going so far as to use BoP to keep racing close (WEC, Super GT etc). When a ground breaking idea is realised in this environment not only is it usually quickly banned, it probably had no use outside of motorsport anyway (DAS for example). All topflight modern motorsport is competitive entertainment made viable by advertising. Machines made to test the limits of our automotive technology exist, but they don't race against each other, they exist in test facilities. Racing isn't rational, but that doesn't mean it isn't subjectively valuable - and when a piece of racing tech very (very) occasionally does have everyday application, that should be celebrated.

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

The road needs docile cars, circuits need crazy cars. Sports cars don't belong in the streets.

[@Mike_858]

Wrong. Like any sane person I have no troubles following traffic laws with a pure bred sportscar.