[Kazutaka Mizuno]
Thanks to your support since its debut four years ago, the Nissan R35 GT-R has evolved to this level.
To commemorate its fourth year, and looking to the future, we want to try something new this year. Let me explain.
It's been four years since GT-R's debut. From the 2007 model's lap time of 7 minutes 38 seconds, this car achieves one lap of the Nordschleife in around 7 minutes 20 seconds.
The GT-R will continue to evolve over the next five years or so in its current form, and continue to improve its performance.
Just as important as performance improvement is, we must be confident about the reliability and durability of the car.
This is the reason we chose to enter the 24 Hours Nürburgring: to perform harsher endurance tests for future performance improvements.
In less time, more force is applied to the vehicle.
To create such driving conditions we are participating in this 24-hour race.
First of all, by completing the race, we will assure the car's durability and reliability.
Secondly, the opportunity also allows us to grow as a team.
I always say, the evolution of a vehicle also necessitates the evolution of the people that continue its development.
If the people do not evolve, the car will not evolve.
This is why the team will challenge itself to develop the ultimate car using the experience from the 24-hour race.
As a result, each team member will create a theme and a course for the training required for further development. This is why we are taking on this challenge.
All the fans are looking forward to watching GT-R, tested and evolved here in the Nürburgring, racing against strong competitors. We want to share the excitement with them.
To accomplish this, we have been planning to have the GT-R compete in a 24-hour race since 2007.
Not through Nismo, the motorsports and racing division of Nissan, but the actual GT-R development team.
In competing, I hope we will respond to the expectations of the car, the team's own expectations, and the expectations of the fans.
People ask me, "what is the ultimate performance goal of the GT-R?"
There is no such thing.
Because no matter what kind of GT-R I create this year, the customer who purchases it will say a year later: I want more power, more cornering capability, better brakes, a car that's more fun to drive.
So if someone asks what our goal is, I will answer that it is not the performance of the car itself, but it is about our customers' feelings and expectations for the GT-R.
That is our development goal.
As long as we are in the race, we will do our absolute best.
Our hope is that this race is a prelude to the GT-R that people will see five years from now.
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