GT5 Transcripts/Nissan CALSONIC Skyline (JGTC) '00

Nissan was aware that its main rivals in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) were starting to distance themselves from its race Skyline GT-R in the GT500 class. So the company made desperate changes to the car in 2000. By shortening the engine height and moving the steering column, which had previously run under the oil pan, the engine was moved to a much lower position. This improved the car's center of gravity. Also, the RB powerplant was bolted directly to the frame to maximize rigidity. Nissan also tweaked the suspension system and added aerodynamic parts to the body to improve downforce.

When this drastically transformed R34 GT-R first appeared, many believe that lowering the engine that much would result in broken engine mounts if the car ever went off the course. At first the changes seemed to be good enough, as the Skyline GT-R made some impressive showings. The blue Calsonic No. 12 Skyline GT-R was driven by Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Satoshi Motoyama, the same pair who brought the company glory in Group A races. They won the sixth race (Mine) and finished the season ranked third. The win at Mine was the first for the Calsonic GT-R since the second race of the 1996 season, and the last JGTC win for Hoshino, once reputed to be the fastest driver in Japan, who retired from racing at the end of 2002.