With a potent, turbocharged powerplant, four-wheel drive, a short wheelbase and a massive aftermarket, the R32 GT-R is an affordable and dependable platform for time attack and circuit racing. In the United States, they’re just becoming available as road cars, but in Australia, they’ve been around for ages, and so their following is sizable. This particular build shows that it doesn’t take heaps of money to build a decent time attack car, since this car’s owner is a landscape gardener, not a millionaire business mogul.

Now, this car’s been done the right way. First, the front end was severed and replaced with steel tubing. Tube frame designs are always the way forward with a dedicated machine. The big dogs were called in when the footwork was addressed: MCA, the company responsible for one of Australia’s fastest time attack 180SXs, supplied a full set of suspension arms.

There’s no mistaking the iconic taillights of the R32 GT-R.

One of the most important parts of a modern time attack machine, and an absolute necessity for a relative dinosaur like the R32 GT-R to be competitive, is aero. Homebuilt carbon splitters and wings help keep the GT-R planted, though the peaky power delivery of the RB26DETT still means it’s an old-school, tail-happy monster in the slower corners.

Something this accelerative could seriously benefit from a sequential gearbox, but they cost absurd amounts of money. Nonetheless, with 600 horsepower, this R32 provides monumental acceleration with the stock five-speed box, albeit with slightly shorter gearing. That acceleration comes as a result of a set of Garrett 2860-5 turbos, which provide a strong mid-range and a screaming top end. Tomei 260 cams help broaden the powerband, and the famous Apex’i PowerFC completes the propulsion package. Helping arrest all the straight-line speed this Nissan is capable of is a set of 6-piston front brakes from Alcon and Project Mu pads at all four corners.

However, braking performance is also affected by unsprung weight and tire grip. Lightweight Enkei RPF1 wheels help trim a bit of heft from the GT-R, and sticky Yokohama A050 wrap them. Remember, this is no high-end build, nor has it been backed by a manufacturer. The right chassis, with a few tasteful modifications and some homebrewed aero pieces show just capable the GT-R is – which is something considering the car is nearing its thirtieth birthday.

Tube-framed front and a massive carbon undertray belie the humble origins of this build.

As with the lightweight wheels, carbon doors – sourced online and not homemade – lessen some of the GT-R’s considerable weight. The stock doors, with glass and wiring weigh in somewhere around 80 pounds, and the carbon replacements a mere 12 pounds. Since the filming of this video, the car has continued its development and upgraded to a dry-sumped RB30 engined with forged internals, extensive carbon body panels, and even wilder aero. To suit the times, this car has certainly a lot to live up to, but it only shows that determination, a modest budget, and some homework are needed to make a seriously quick time attack car. Now, is it St. Hewland who’s the generous patron saint of sequential gearboxes?

” width=”640″ height=”360″ /> The car has made some serious headway since 2013, and it’s only getting quicker.

For those interested, the project can be followed here.