Unexpected appearance of the new GT-R prototype at Goodwood Festival

[Zulaytr]

The new GT-R prototype appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK (June 22nd – 24th) *¹, which is now the premier motor sport and motoring festival in Europe. The GT-R prototype appeared without any preannouncements and made a couple of runs up hill climb course in full camouflage, driven by Carlos Tavares, EVP in Supercar run sessions. The audience were excited by this surprise and the GT-R was a really show stopper of the festival. The new GT-R will be officially launched at Tokyo Motor Show of this year.

At the Festival, Nissan had other cars taking part in the Supercar run - 350Z which won the 2004 championship of Japanese SUPER GT500, 1999 BTCC*² winning Primera and other　Nissan racing and rally cars. In addition, a electric concept car “PIVO” which had been shown at Tokyo Motor Show 2005 was exhibited.

*1： “Goodwood　Festival of Speed” official site

http://www.goodwood.co.uk/fos/

[Dat240ZG]

Man, the FOS is the premier event period! I've been to a few different ones, and I've never gotten to get up close to those cars like I did at Goodwood.

My highlight was getting to spend about 5 minutes just talking with John Surtees. He was truly a nice guy, willing to just chat even though the course marshalls were trying to move him along.

Goodwood was def one of the highlights of my adult life!

Bryan

[26th-Z]

I'm sorry I must have missed this thread, Bob. The GTR appearance was all over the net. Pretty exciting stuff!

[26th-Z]

Not too much response on this topic, but I am a big fan of the event and it is on my list of things to do some one of these days. I have the program from the event and scanned all the little blurbs about the Datsun / Nissan cars that were there. You'll get a kick out of the written text. Seems they need some help!

[HS30-H]

The GT-R prototype appeared without any preannouncements and made a couple of runs up hill climb course in full camouflage, driven by Carlos Tavares................

Actually, that isn't strictly true. The FOS organisers announced that the GT-R would be attending ( it was even on the FOS pre-event website for a while ) and there was a lot of gossip that it was going to be there anyway.

The audience were excited by this surprise and the GT-R was a really show stopper of the festival.

My personal impression was that probably only around 5% of the showgoers spotted the GT-R and even fewer cared about it. The rest either didn't notice it, or didn't care anyway. There's always too much interesting stuff going on at the FOS for a single proto ( in disguise, and being purposely elusive ) to stop the show. I got the distinct impression myself that it lacked 'presence'.

I have the program from the event and scanned all the little blurbs about the Datsun / Nissan cars that were there. You'll get a kick out of the written text. Seems they need some help!

Some of those gaffes caused a few guffaws in the group I was in. I think the organisers need a new editor......

Alan T.