Going full send in the 2024 Nissan Z and GT-R on track – Feature
A few weeks ago, Nissan Philippines launched the highly anticipated 2024 Z and GT-R locally. With this launch came the subsequent fanfare and overall excitement that the newest heart-pumping performance cars were making their way to our sometimes overlooked country.
The question remains though, just how good of an improvement is the Z over the 370Z and if the tweaked GT-R feels any different from the outgoing model. For these, we needed proper seat time in the proper environment, and by some stroke of luck (or crazy), the brand decided to host a media track day.
2024 Nissan Z and GT-R track day
Any news of a brand-sanctioned track day always gives joy to any car lover, and this was no exception. When would we ever again be invited to experience these performance cars on track? So with this in mind I prepared my mind to extract the most I could from all vehicles, while also still walking away unscathed, tough task.
I arrived at the baking-hot Clark International Speedway just before noon. The weather was thankfully clear with the added factors of humidity plus the eye and skin-searing Philippine sun, after parking the car and walking towards the registration booth I could already hear the screeching of tires and howling Nissan V6s. I felt like a soldier awaiting my orders before entering the battlefield and hearing the explosions in the distance, rest assured I was properly anxious and excited.
After the registration formalities, I roamed the paddock area and found that the brand pulled out all the stops to create not just a track day atmosphere but also an educational one. Right smack in the middle of the pit area was a ‘museum’ dedicated to famous Nissan GT-R and Z models of the past, accompanied by information on the prominent history of both models and why they are seared into automotive lore.
A short walk past the museum led me to the heart of the action, gleaming in the sun and looking like a collection of brightly colored Skittles were the cars themselves. What shocked me was that there were 4 cars, both the old and both the new models were on tap because the brand wanted us to experience the difference. We would be driving each car around the track twice with the guiding hand of the experienced and ever-witty Ramirez racing family.
While the morning session group was still finishing up, I took the opportunity to calm my nerves and ask those who had gone before me what to expect. The responses I got in return were one of wonder and disbelief with a side helping of smirks and giggles, knowing what awaited me, I stood trackside and watched these cars do their dance around corners and sing the symphony of engines down the main straight.
Finally, the time had come for me to meet the stars of the show, I was given a safety briefing along with a helmet. I clambered into the red 2024 GT-R first and set off ever so gently out of the pitlane. Clark International Speedway (CIS) is a mix of long sweeping straights and deceiving corners, on paper it seems easy but it isn’t even more seasoned drivers are caught napping if not at full attention.
Thankfully, the 2024 GT-R commands attention, I immediately noticed just how eager the powertrain is to blast itself into hyperspace, a gentle tap on the accelerator brings that legendary V6 turbo to life. Cornering the 2024 Nissan GT-R is where its age shows somewhat, it felt heavy, but In all honesty that AWD system still gives the confidence needed to attack the apex and power out of corners.
Compared to the outgoing model, the 2024 version somehow feels more on edge and has a more precise agile feel despite basically being the same car with some small tweaks. It’s down the main straight where Godzilla really shows up, with my foot planted firmly to the floor the GT-R shoved me into the back of my seat and hurtled way past 200kph by the time I ran out of bravery and hit the brakes. I was surprised though at how calm and collected the GT-R is on track.
Up next was the 2024 Nissan Z, and this was the biggest shock of the day for me. I had driven the 370Z extensively before and while I admired its approach to old-school sportscar driving and feel, I could tell it was old. Knowing that I honestly was just expecting the new Z to be slightly better and still offer the same things the 370Z did, but I was wrong, very wrong.
From the moment I pulled out of the pitlane and floored the Nissan Z it sprang to life with the almost same urgency as the GT-R, and taking the tight corners was easy thanks to very light and direct steering that helped me place the car better for optimal corner entry and exit. Also, because of it’s rear-wheel drive front engine layout, the Z was very playful, coming out of tight corners induced some controllable oversteer, nothing scary but very entertaining. I found myself enjoying the Nissan Z more and more as the lap progressed and my confidence grew to a level where I was thoroughly putting it to its paces.
The Z is a wonderful mix of old and new school, a perfect balance between exhilarating speed and accessible handling. It truly felt approachable and fun, but overall not intimidating at all. Its bigger brother the GT-R remains the same mind-bending supercar that it is, precise, sharp, and powerful.
Let me sum it up by saying this, the Nissan GT-R is a missile, very much dedicated to shaving off milliseconds on the race track with the utmost precision. The Nissan Z meanwhile is a firecracker, mesmerizing, super fun, but equally as explosive. The beauty about both is the fact that anybody can buy them, it’s just up to you to decide who you are, a missile or a firecracker.
