One to Buy: ex-Object T 1992 Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R Gr.A
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Although the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and BMW E30 M3 largely dominated their respective classes in Group A touring car racing, neither proved so successful that the rulemakers decided to abandon the category in favour of an all new formula.
However, that was precisely the course of action taken by the organisers of the Japanese and Australian Touring Car Championships after several years domination by the Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R.
With its advanced underpinnings and infinitely tuneable twin turbocharged straight six engine, the GT-R vanquished all before it in a similar fashion to its PGC-10 and KPGC-10 predecessors between 1969 and 1972.
Perhaps even more impressively, the R32 GT-R ultimately proved so effective that it went on to dominate the Japanese GT Championship once outlawed from the touring car scene.
Set to go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Amelia Island auction on March 2nd is this sensational survivor of the 1993 Japanese Touring Car Championship.
Chassis 2808R was campaigned in that year’s series by Object T and ran in the yellow and green colours of title sponsor, BP fuels. It was driven throughout the ‘93 campaign by Hisashi Yokoshima and Tom Kristensen who fininished on the podium in five of the nine rounds.
Most famously, Yokoshima and Kristensen won the Fuji 500km season finale which was the last major international race organised for Group A machinery. Other notable results that year included second at the Autopolis 300km, a trio of third place finished in the 300km races at Mine, Aida and Tsukuba, fourth in the Suzuka 500km and fifth in the Sendai 300km.
Today, chassis 2808R is offered in highly original race ready condition and, with an estimate of US$375,000 to US$475,000, looks good value compared to some limited edition GT-R road cars.
