Source:REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
[Saba Sports News] On March 25, Max Verstappen test-drove the Nissan Z NISMO GT500 at Fuji Speedway in Japan. The test took place on the eve of the F1 Japanese Grand Prix weekend, and Verstappen drove a Z NISMO GT500 painted in Red Bull livery. The car competes in the top class of Japan’s Super GT championship; its performance is comparable to the pre-GT3-era DTM and is faster than a standard GT3 car.
The session was held in wet conditions. Verstappen completed multiple laps and familiarized himself with the car’s 2.0-liter inline-four engine. Due to the weather, he wasn’t able to experience the class’s dry-weather extremes—around 12 seconds per lap quicker than GT3 cars—or fully exploit the car’s potential on a dry track. According to a Red Bull executive, the test was mainly a promotional shoot for team marketing, and Verstappen also spent time talking with Super GT drivers from Japan. This was his first hands-on run in a current Super GT-class car since 2022.
The editor notes that Verstappen “unlocking new cars” has become routine, and it’s a pity the wet conditions prevented him from showing the GT500’s outright pace. Still, the session was primarily promotional rather than competitive, so it’s likely Verstappen won’t be bothered by an unimpressive time.