Time attack and GT-Rs go together like toast and jam. It’s a great platform for finding one hot lap, though the chassis is arguably too heavy and too big to make for a great circuit racer. But racing multiple laps and an all-out qualifying session are two very different things. Build by World’s Best Technology Motorsports, this R33 GT-R has just about everything, except low-speed turn-in, but that’s to be expected. Too heavy and too long, the clever differentials pioneered with the R33 GT-R aren’t enough to get the big car rotated into the corner. But traction is unbelievable. There’s seemingly nothing a GT-R with sticky Yokohama semi-slicks can’t put down to the ground without a fuss. The real reason this car flies is the aero package. In the faster corners, particularly Turn One seen at 1:08, There’s none of the familiar reluctance seen in low speed corners; the wings catch the big, bouncy Nissan. It’s also worth noting that the gigantic single turbocharger isn’t spiky enough in its power delivery to bind the car or spear it off-line. It’s just like a train, on rails, and massively quick just about everywhere.

The Andrew Brilliant bodykit makes it look quick from any angle.

That has something to do with the man behind the wheel. Steven Johnson, son of Aussie racing legend Dick Johnson and former V8 Supercar driver, knows the Sydney Motorsport Park like the back of his tanned hand. The car in his possession has similar power to the V8 Supercars he’s used to – roughly 850 bhp – but that additional downforce from the Andrew Brilliant aero kit makes this time attack specialty much quicker over one lap. The dry-sumped RB26 was built by Hi-Octane Racing and is mated to an Albins sequential gearbox to keep the peaky motor in its powerband.  With quintessential GT-R composure, the car looks easy to drive, but in reality requires discipline. Most notably, everything has to be done slowly, gently, and consistently to get the most from the large car and violent motor – from turning in gently, and rolling on the throttle. It’s a good thing they brought in the big guns to handle it.