The most unique GT1 race car to compete at Le Mans
- 02 November 2023
1998 Nissan R390 GT1 - #78009
On Display at Heritage Classic in Central London
- 5th Overall 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans – Car #30
- Last of Seven Cars Manufactured by NISMO and TWR
- One of Three Longtails Produced for the 1998 Season
- Retained by Nissan Heritage for 20 Years
- Unused Since the Chequered Flag in 1998
- Transferred to Erik Comas (Nissan Works Driver) in 2019
- Fully Restored by Andrea Chiavenuto Including Street Conversion from 2019
- NISMO Application for UK Registration – Registration #M24 ANS
- Thought to be the Only Street Legal Le man GT1
- Eligible for Endurance Racing Legends Including Le Mans Classic
- Weight: 950KG / Power: 650 CV / Gearbox: XTRAC 6 Sequential
The Nissan R390 GT1 was a racing car built in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). It was designed primarily to gain a racing entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1997 and 1998.
It was built to race under the Grand Touring (GT1) style rules, requiring a homologated version to be built. Therefore, the R390 was built originally in Atsugi, Japan as a road car. Three racing versions were subsequently built (plus one modified to long-tail) and three long-tail 1998 specification. Only one R390 road car was ever built and is stored at Nissan’s Zama facility.
Only nine chassis numbers were allocated to the R390; #1 was the road car painted in red then changed to #2 when repainted blue. #3 - #5 were the 1997 race cars. #6 crashed in testing. #7 - #9 were the long-tail 1998 cars. #9 is the only long-tail outside of the museum.
Ever since this Nissan R390 GT1 crossed the finish line at Le Mans 1998, it has been kept hidden away for twenty years in Japan, as originally agreed with one of the Nissan drivers. Along with five other R390 racers built by Nissan, in a bid to win the world’s greatest endurance race in 1997 and ’98, this specific chassis – 009 (codenamed R8) with racing #30 has resided in the Nissan Heritage Collection.
Nissan placed its four cars in the top ten including a 3rd place podium, next to the two factory Porsche GT1’s. This amazing piece of racing history, unused since Le Mans 1998 has covered only 5000 km of racing plus 1000 km of testing. This was the last one produced, just before Le Mans prequalification.
When the car was transferred to Erik Comas in 2018, Andrea Chiavenuto from Classic Racing and Lucien Monte, took it apart completely. Carbon dust was found on the car from the 1998 race. The engine and gearbox were also stripped. Erik wanted to keep the car as original as possible. Even the fuel tanks were replaced by the original manufacturer to the exact same specification. After the restoration, the car was given an extensive shakedown. The ECU has separate mapping for city, road and race. The ride height was adjusted to suit. Power Steering was added, the interior clad in alcantara, a new glass windshield and headlamp covers fitted. Requirements for registration as per the original road car.
95% original from the day it crossed the line and ready to race, this has to be one of the rarest GT1’s in existence.
