Nissan NPT-90
The Nissan NPT -90 was a race car, the 1990 Nissan Performance Technology Inc. ( NPTI ) - was developed for Nissan - formerly known as Electra Automotive Engineering. It replaced the highly successful GTP ZX- Turbo that had the IMSA GT Championship won in 1989. The NPT -90 won the competition in 1990 and 1991 before it was withdrawn from Nissan end of 1992.
Although the car was officially NPT -90, but went further with the inscription " GTP ZX- Turbo" of the previous year vehicle. Nissan wanted to use this name to market their production vehicle 300ZX.
Development
After five years of development and improvement of the GTP ZX- Turbo Nissan realized that increasing competition from Toyota and Jaguar made the use of a new car is necessary if you wanted to defend the championship. NPTI, the U.S. motorsports division of Nissan, should construct a completely new car and thereby waive the suspension based on the Lola, as it was used in the GTP ZX- Turbo. The new car should show instead of the more angular appearance of its predecessor, a more rounded and narrower cockpit. The large air intake openings at the front of the vehicle should be replaced with smaller pieces, whereas the large vertical snorkel of the turbocharger to be placed at the sides of the vehicle.
Nissan continued to use the VG30 engine, a 3.0 -liter V6 turbo, which had already driven the GTP ZX- Turbo. The engine has more power provides, inter alia, through the use of a four-valve cylinder head instead of the two- valve head used before. Ultimately, Nissan decided in 1992 to reduce the model NPT -91 the displacement of the VG engine to 2.5 L in order to equip him with two turbochargers and can thus compared with the Toyota racing cars to be more competitive.
The NPT -90 has evolved over time and in the middle of the 1991 season was the result NPT 91st As of 1992, there were more versions, which were then referred to as NPT NPT 91A to 91D.
Racing history
1990
Because the chassis of the NPT -90 at the start of the 1990 season was not finished yet, NPTI continued to use the older GTP ZX- Turbo. Only in the middle of the season was the first new chassis ready and was first used in Topeka, where the car finished in eighth place and a GTP ZX- Turbo was second. In the race at Lime Rock Park is the only NPT -90 retired with engine problems, but soon after he won the race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. When they celebrated their second win this car at Watkins Glen and also the second vehicle was completed, the GTP ZX- Turbo have been completely replaced by the NPT -90.
In the remaining season, the NPT - 90, the constructors' championship was only able to secure another win and indeed in the Road America race, but the good seats of both cars as well as the successes of the GTP ZX- Turbo enabled Nissan for the second year in a row to win. Geoff Brabham secured the third drivers' championship in a row.
1991
At the beginning of the racing season 1991 Nissan waived, as before, on the long-distance race 24 Hours of Daytona, because the NPT -90 was more of a vehicle for quick bursts of speed. Unlike in previous years, but some R90CK Nissan brought from Europe to the United States to gather with them points for the championship. The NPT -90 but were used in the 12 - hour race at Sebring, in which they won the first two places for Nissan. For shorter races the Jaguar outperformed the Nissan and drove three wins in a row before the revised NPT -91 in Topeka and Lime Rock came to the course again. Then again won Jaguar, but also Toyota and the private Intrepid team could enter victories.
Although in some cases even three NPT -91 came in a race to use, they could not win a further victory of the season more. As in the previous year, however, succeeded by Nissan good rankings even retract the third constructors' championship in a row. Geoff Brabham reached in succession, the fourth drivers' championship, in which he let the stablemates Chip Robinson only five points behind.
1992
Again we had from the 24 Hours of Daytona, but the team was supported by the victory of the Japanese Nissan R91CK. The triumphal procession was continued by the victorious debut of the NPT -91 in Miami. However, it was not possible to secure third consecutive win at Sebring for Nissan, since the NPT was beaten by a 91 Toyota for all five rounds. The season continued in this style, as the NPT -91 major accidents and many mechanical problems had, which prevented them from completing the race.
Also known as the C -Spec NPT -91 with two turbochargers middle of the season joined the team, NPTI continued to struggle. There were also financial problems, so that finally only an NPT -91 was reported. This car could achieve no more wins, which is why Nissan took this year by a wide margin in second place in the constructors' championship behind Toyota. Geoff Brabham was just third in the drivers' championship.
1993
After the 1992 season, Nissan made plans for a successor to the NPT -90 series. They began to adapt the already shelved P35 to the IMSA GTP rules. Then, however, the IMSA announced its intention to abolish the GTP series in 1994, which moved to Nissan to cease now 93GTP or NPT -93 project mentioned. Instead, they concentrated with the models 240SX and 300ZX on the production-based IMSA classes.
Giampiero Moretti of Momo team left do not be discouraged by the retreat of the work, an original NPT -90 is procured and used it throughout the season in 1993. The car achieved some good results, for example, a second place in the 12 - hour race Sebring and a third place at Mid-Ohio. Momos use secured Nissan least a third place in the Constructors ' Championship and Gianpiero Moretti finished third in the Drivers' Championship. With the abolition of GTP class of NPT -90 was finally retired from active racing.