Ten odd years ago, when I first found myself browsing the internet for onboard footage of racing drivers at work, the silky-smooth style of Japan’s Nobuteru Taniguchi instantly caught my eye.

Behind the wheel, every input seemed so effortless, so planned, and never once did he seem to flinch or put a wheel wrong. The entire time, the man spoke quietly and drove calmly, never biting off more than he could chew but going remarkably fast at the same time. His economical style made him both a stellar drifter and a racing driver of high rank, as is seen here with HKS‘ newest 1,200-horsepower GT-R.

Four-wheel drive helps, but this motor is capable of breaking the tires loose everywhere. Street tires, as mandated in most time attack series, aren’t terribly effective with much more than 700 horsepower, and this car’s output nearly doubles that. Managing traction is where that sensitive touch and deliberate, progressive inputs come in handy.

The BenSopra kit and the Advan wheels give this car an unmistakable look of purpose.

Nobuteru, known commonly as “Nob” for “No One Better,” applies the power gracefully as he rolls past each corner apex. That monstrous torque is the result of a 4.1-liter stroker kit from HKS, twin GTII 7867 turbos, and a stunning 12(!) different 575cc injectors.

The stroke is matched to the 95.5mm bore, which helps this engine rev a bit higher – to 8,000 rpm. Additionally, the car benefits from a 9.0:1 compression ratio, 29 pounds of boost, and some high-lift, 278-degree exhaust cams. Coupled with 270-degree intake cams, the car retains decent mid-range torque while screaming in the higher rev-range.

Power of this magnitude needs to be harnessed with additional gearbox strengthening.  Unlike other racing GT-Rs which utilize a gearbox different than the stock GR6 unit, HKS opted to reinforce the standard piece with their own GR6 Transmission Gear Kit, which includes thicker gears, steel plates and steel shift forks. A specialized clutch kit with additional clutch discs helps harness the monumental power, but considering this heavyweight still tips the scales at 3,400 pounds, it’s surprising the gearbox isn’t breaking all the time.

The car is far from a dragster, and though not the lightest, has been made to corner very quickly. A set of HKS Hipermax IV SPL coilovers with specialized springs, 20″ Advan GTII wheels, Nismo differentials front and rear, and sticky Yokohama A005 tires measuring 11-inches across help apply that concrete-churning power to the road.

Nob’s preferred Nardi wheel gives the car a personalized touch.

The GT1000 GT-R isn’t terribly light by racecar standards, but it nevertheless had to shed plenty of heft to get to where it is now. Carbon doors, roof, hood, and dash helped to lose weight, as did a stripped interior, lighter Endless Monobloc brakes, and a striking BenSopra bodykit.

The whole package allowed Nob to net a remarkable 1:37.733 at Fuji Speedway – just matching the times of the lighter, nimbler GT3 GT-Rs that run in Super GT. Granted, the track has some very long straights, but that time is still the result of a well-handling car.

On road tires and without much downforce, this machine matches the times of a purpose-built racing car. Straight-line speed advantage or not, that is a stunning achievement.