World's first R35 GT-R drag car

When the news of not one but three full-chassis R35 GT-R drag cars appeared as if from nowhere just a couple of weeks ago it took many, including the team at Zoom, by surprise. Aaron Gregory and the ITP team did well to keep the simultaneous builds on the down-low but since those first pics, we've seen nothing. Zero. Zip.

Fast forward to today and we nabbed our first spy pics of the first of those GT-R race cars and the progress made so far. While there's still plenty to do, this car is actually entered to race at the 21st Jamboree... and that's just three weeks away.

As you can see from these pics, the interior fitout is already complete with the fire system plumbed, seat and harness fitted up and miles of carbon fibre tubs and trim.

The mould for the shell was taken from an R35 GT-R and the lines remain almost entirely unmodified (rare in full chassis race car bodies), with the only change being an extension of the front end to maximise the allowed overhang. As you can see, this bad boy is painted in an evil shade of purposeful black, just like the owner's current 7sec GT-R.

So what then of the GT-R's all important powertrain? All three of the GT-R's built at ITP are destined for inline six-cylinder turbo engines but only this one will feature the greatest Nissan engine of them all and the one most often associated with the model - the  RB26. And while Mark Jacobsen's Godzilla Motorsport R35 GT-R currently sits with just a dummy engine in place, it won't be long before the RB26DET from his 7sec R32 GT-R finds a new home in the mass of chromoly tube that comprises this monster's front end. Behind it, a brand new Lenco 5-spd and twin-disc clutch will send drive to the 10.5W rear slicks and with the heavyweight R32 capable of high seven-second passes at 180+mph, it's anybodies guess just how fast the new car will be.