Classic JDM Sports Cars - For the Track
There are a lot of considerations to account for when trying to find a good solid performance vehicle to enjoy or to enter into the motorsports arena. When it comes to motorsports, you not only must consider a fast car but also the type of racing, the requirements for various racing categories, your budget, etc. The list of considerations is quite lengthy. I will sum up my top picks and why I feel they make the best all round track day sports cars.
Nissan Skyline GTR
Definitely at the top of my list is the Nissan Skyline GTR. Its powerful engine and balanced performance have earned it quite a few trophies. The Nissan RB Series engine and notably the RB-26 DETT found in the Skyline GTR is definitely at the top of my list when it comes to strong power plants that can be easily enhanced and tuned for higher performance without sacrificing reliability. Additionally, they start off with about 300hp and can handle upgrades up to nearly 500hp without upgrading the transmission or other drive train components (although recommended). There are a lot of aftermarket parts to tune the car up as well. Lastly, its all wheel drive creates excellent launches off any starting line to give it an edge and the HICAS steering assist can be advantageous on curves, although many tuners opt out by removing this feature for drag racing purposes.
When it comes to durability, there are not many vehicles with solid engines and drive trains that can handle constant track use in stock trim but my Skyline always performed in tip top shape and never had any issues.
A little on the History of the GTR. The GT-R's history of racetrack dominance began with its 50 victories scored from 1968 to 1972, including 49 consecutive wins in the Japanese race circuit. The Skyline GT-R later earned the nickname "Godzilla", as a play on its "monster" track performance and country of origin. The R32 GT-R dominated JTCC and won all 29 races it entered in the series, as well as taking the series title every year from 1989 to 1993.
It took 50 races from 50 starts from 1991 to 1997 (latterly R33) in the N1 Super Taikyu. The GT-R's success sounded the death knell of Group A Touring Car racing; with the formula being scrapped soon after. JTCC was similarly dominated by the R32 GT-R, and splintered soon after, leading to the switch to the Super touring category and also indirectly to the GT500 category of today.
The GT-R's success in motor racing was formidable, particularly in the annual 1,000 km race at the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia, where the winner in 1991 and 1992 was a GT-R. It would take the overall win of the 1991 Spa 24 Hours, after obtaining pole position and fastest lap time, ahead of the Porsche 911 and BMW M3. It remained dominant in the Japanese GT series for many years.
1992 Nissan Skyline GTR R-32
1999 Nissan Skyline GTR R-34 from the movie “2 Fast 2 Furious”
Tuned RB-26 DETT Engine
Toyota Supra
I have always held the Toyota Supra MKIII (1988-1993) and MKIV (1992-2002) in high regards. I have much respect for the performance of the 1JZ engine found in the MKIII and even more so for the infamous 2JZ Engine found in the MKIV. These power plants are often seen making over 1,000 horse power at drag events and other high performance venues. They are renowned for their durability and reliability. They have a proven track record in many drag events and have numerous aftermarket parts easily available. In Japan it’s a classic matchup of the snake vs. mongoose when you have a Supra and a Skyline line up. It’s anyone’s guess which car will be the first one to cross the finish line.
The Supra has a history of professional drag racing, mainly in Japan and the United States. The HKS team have used both the Mk III and Mk IV to showcase its products, known as the HKS Drag Supra. This Supra was driven by Charlie Goncalves Catanho. It was mainly built on a custom chassis with a carbon fiber body, the Mk III version housed a de-stroked 2.89-liter twin-turbo 7M-GTE, good for 800 bhp (600 kW) at over 9000 rpm, giving a best quarter mile time of 8.09 seconds.
One of the first Pro Mod driver in import drag racing, Vinny Ten used a Supra to hold national records for drag racing in the United States between 1997 to 2000 as well as being the first in the US to build a 1,000 bhp (700 kW) Japanese engine without the need of nitrous or alcohol fuel. Ten also achieved the first for the Supra to break into the 12 to 8 second barriers as well as achieving a speed of over 120 to 160 mph (260 km/h). Ten has since taken his Supra into the six second barrier.
Toyota Supra MK IV
Mazda RX-7
You cannot deny the beauty that can be seen in the design of the RX-7 FD3S (1993-2002). There is just something about the sleek design and its high revving rotary engine that make it seem more like a stealth fighter than a street car.
The FD RX-7 was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year. When Playboy first reviewed the FD RX-7 in 1993, they tested it in the same issue as the [then] new Dodge Viper. In that issue, Playboy declared the RX-7 to be the better of the two cars. It went on to win Playboy's Car of the Year for 1993. The FD RX-7 also made Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 1993 through 1995, for every year in which it was sold state-side. June 2007 Road & Track proclaimed "The ace in Mazda's sleeve is the RX-7, a car once touted as the purest, most exhilarating sports car in the world. After its introduction in 1991, it won the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference Car of the Year award in Japan.
Mazda RX-7 FD3S Engine
There are many more top quality cars that can meet the demands of racing circuits but these are my top choices in Japanese classic sports cars that I feel tackle the task of a wide spectrum of racing applications and that will enhance your chances of winning the trophy. I hope this helps out and I look forward to seeing you at the races!