Images: Jayson Fong
Low, Sleek and intensely fast even by today’s standards, we take a closer look at the Nissan R90CK – one of the most memorable sports car racers from the grand era of Group C.
Developed together with the master builders at Lola Cars International the R90CK was an evolution of the existing and problematic R89C that failed to succeed both in terms of reliability and pace during the 1989 season. Although many aspects of the R89C’s design were fundamentally unchanged for the R90, the differences were in the detail of increasing aerodynamics and the black art of downforce.
Together with its Nissan twin-turbo V8 engine, which is capable of over 1100hp, the car achieved the highest straight line speed on the Mulsanne Straight at 366km/h (226.9mph) following the installation of the chicanes.
To this day, the R90CK’s straight line speed remains unquestionably fast. At the 2014 Le Mans 24Hr supporting race, Group C again took to La Sarthe and the R90CK again astonished crowds by achieving the 3rd highest speed of the entire weekend with a 338.1km/h (210.1mph) pass. Remarkably, only 2 cars from the official 2014 24hr event surpassed the R90CK with speeds 1km/h faster.
In 1990, The R90CK’s place in history would be cemented because of its blistering speed, especially evident during its pole position lap for the year’s Le Mans 24hr.
Pictured is the #25 JECS R90CK used during the 1990 season by Nissan Motorsports International for competition in the World Sportscar Championship. Today the car’s racing spirit lives on as a competitor in the Group C Racing Series (www.groupcracing.com).
Even 24 years later, the legendary straight-line monster remains, indeed, a devastating weapon.
Images and words by Jayson Fong, Form & Function
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