Nissan R90CK
| Nissan | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| R90CK | |
| Production period: | 1990-1993 |
| Class : | race car |
| Body versions : | Coupe |
| Engines: |
Otto engine : 3.5 liters (597 kW) |
| Length: | 4780 mm |
| Width: | 1990 mm |
| Height: | 1100 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2749 mm |
| Empty weight : | 920 kg |
| Previous model | Nissan R89C |
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The R90CK / R90CP is a sports car prototype developed by Nissan that was used from 1990 to 1993.
A total of six vehicles were built, five of which were of the R90CK type, and another version built for the Japanese championship was called the R90CP. The cars were factory-used during the 1990 season before Nissan passed one of the vehicles on to Nova Engineering in 1991, which revised the car and renamed it R91CK.
Model variants
Nissan R90CK
The R90CK is a further development of the Nissan R89C . This is also indicated by the “K” in the type designation, it stands for the Japanese “kai”, which means “improved” in German. Like its predecessor, the R90CK was developed and built by Nissan Motorsports Europe (NME) in collaboration with the sports car manufacturer Lola .
The new car had improved aerodynamics and longer suspension travel, and engine consumption was also reduced. In the further development, the better accessibility of important units was an essential point.
The R90CK, which is equipped with a 5-speed gearbox, is driven by an 8-cylinder twin turbo with a capacity of 3,496 cm³ , which is called "VRH35Z". In qualifying coordination, the engine achieves an output of up to 1200 hp, while in long-distance trim it produces around 800 hp at 7600 rpm. The performance of 18- inch and 28.5-inch (72 cm) wide rear tires is transferred to the road, while 17-inch and 25.5-inch (65 cm) wide tires are fitted in the front.
Nissan R90CP
The Nissan R90CP is also an improved version of the R89CK. The “P” in the type designation stands for Oppama, where the Nismo ( Nissan Motorsports International ) development center is located. There, under the direction of Yoshi Suzuka, the vehicle's aerodynamics were completely revised.
During test drives on the Nissan test center in Arizona, the R90CP reached a top speed of 396 km / h. At 366 km / h, the R90CP was also the fastest car in Le Mans in 1990, but this time in racing trim. H. with more downforce and thus higher air resistance.
In the JSPC, Nissan used two R90CP. One of the chassis was completely rebuilt, the other was an R89C (chassis 2) modified to the R90CP.
Nissan R91CK
The Nissan R91CK is a Nissan R90CK (chassis 7) modified by Nova Engineering. For the 1992 season, the car's aerodynamics were revised again with the help of NISMO. In addition to the modified bodywork, the yellow paintwork with “From A” sponsorship makes the car stand out from the factory Nissan.
Racing operations - factory
Le Mans
A total of seven Nissan vehicles took to the starting line at the 1990 Le Mans 24 Hours . In addition to the five current works cars, two privately used cars from the previous year also competed. The works cars were used by three different departments responsible for motorsport at Nissan. Two vehicles came from the American Nissan Performance Technology Inc. (NPTI), two from the European NME and one from the Japan-based Team Nismo. The cars of the Nissan racing teams differed from one another despite the same base, as they used parts and aerodynamic packages from different suppliers. A total of 21 drivers were at the start for Nissan.
In qualifying, Mark Blundell was able to achieve pole position with the R90CK. With maximum charging and special qualifying slicks, he achieved a time of 3: 27.020 minutes, with which he was six seconds faster than the second-placed Porsche. The R90CP used by the Japanese team qualified in third place, followed by two other R90CK in fourth (NPTI) and fifth (NME).
Only three of the seven Nissans that started saw the checkered flag. The best-placed vehicle was the R90CP in fifth place (Hasemi / Hoshino / Suzuki), the number 84 (Earl / Roe / Millen) prepared by the US NPTI team came in 17th and the R89C used by the private racing team Courage Compétition was ranked as 22nd rated.
JSPC
With the Nissan R90CP, Nissan Motorsports International participated extremely successfully in the Japanese sports car championship All Japan Sports Prototype Championship (JSPC) in 1990. The team finished in the points all six races, with three wins and three additional podium finishes. Thus Nissan won the brand classification clearly ahead of Porsche and Toyota . In the drivers' championship, the Hasemi / Olofsson duo took first place, tied with their team mates Hoshino / Suzuki.
WSPC
The missions in the World Sportscar Championship (WSPC) were carried out by NME. From the second round of the season in 1990, the team started with two Nissan R90CKs, after having fielded two R89Cs from the previous year in addition to the modified R89C, now called R90CP, at the season opener in Suzuka . In nine races, Mark Blundell and Julian Bailey , among others, achieved two second and three third places as well as eight more point finishes. Nissan thus took third place in the team standings behind the dominating team, Sauber Mercedes and Silk Cut Jaguar.
Daytona
At the 1991 Daytona 24 Hours , the US NPTI team fielded three more tried and tested Nissan R90CKs. While two of the vehicles were eliminated, Geoff Brabham , Chip Robinson , Derek Daly and Bob Earl took second place.
Racing use - private
JSPC
In the 1991 season, Nova Engineering used an R90CK chassis modified to the R91CK with drivers Akihiko Nakaya and Volker Weidler in the Japanese Endurance Championship . Three second places as well as a sixth and tenth place secured the duo sixth place in the drivers' championship.
In 1992, the team returned to the JSPC, while Weidler stayed in the team, Nakaya was replaced by Mauro Martini . During the season, Weidler fell ill with tinnitus , which caused him to suffer from balance disorders, among other things. He therefore decided to end his career and was replaced by Katsutomo Kaneishi. This later had to give way to Heinz-Harald Frentzen . A second, four third and a sixth place let Mauro Martini finish the season in sixth in the drivers' championship.
At the 1000 km of Suzuka, the R91CK contested its last race in commercial motorsport in 1993. The drivers were Mauro Martini and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
Daytona
In 1992, in addition to the JSPC, the R91CK also took part in the Daytona 24 Hours . In addition to Martini and Frentzen, Jeff Krosnoff was the third driver. The team took eighth place.
