Most Successful Nissan GT-R Nismo Still in Private Hands Shoots to Stardom in Gran Turismo

The Nissan GT-R has been a cult car for ages. This one right here is no different. And showing up on the big screen will only make it shoot to stardom. Of course, you’ll find out that anonymity was never the case when it came to this GT-R Nismo that stars in the Gran Tourismo movie.

The movie tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a British pro GT racing driver, who started his career by playing racing video games in his room. But there was a one-of-a-kind chance for sim racers with no experience in real-life racing. They were given the chance to race for Nissan.

Mardenborough was the third winner of the competition. But things took off, and he eventually ended up racing in a real car on real racetracks and even scoring a podium at Le Mans in an LMP2 car. The film follows the twists and turns of the gamer-turned-racing driver’s life.

David Harbour, who also played in Stranger Things, will now be the young man’s coach. Directed by Neill Blomkamp and with the Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi serving as executive producer, the film also brings to the screen big names such as Orlando Bloom and Darren Barnet.

The sports car is a Hollywood star with quite a racing history. It belonged to the creator of the GT Academy, Darren Cox, played by Orlando Bloom. GT Academy is the competition the movie refers to.

It is unusual to take chances with real race cars on the movie set instead of using replicas. The real deal might get damaged beyond repair. But Jann Mardenborough, played by Archie Madekwe in the movie, performed several stunts himself in this car and drove the GT3 several times as he used to do it in real life, when it was active as a Nissan Europe works car. He knew exactly the abilities and the limits of this car.

It is the exact same car that finished ninth in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring back in 2015 and eleventh next year. It is Nissan’s best result on the "Green Hell." If it may be confusing to browse through the photo gallery and see a car in white and another one in black, let us break it down for you. Eight years ago, at Nurburgring, it raced with a black livery to honor a spectator who passed away in an earlier VLN round accident involving Mardenborough and another GT-R GT3.

The left-hand-drive Nissan GT-R also shows up in all the promotional material for the movie, but plays a key role in the story of the GT Academy as well. Now it is already going under the hammer, even though the movie has not premiered yet.

Usually, cars that play parts in big-budget movies take their time before they become available for sale. The Gran Tourismo movie had an alleged combined production and promotion budget of $180 million.

The film company keeps them for sequels or various events. And even when it happens, there are people queuing, hoping to get their hands on them. This is what happened when Paul Walker’s GT-R hit the auction block. It sold for $1.3 million.

The car is going under the hammer at the Silverstone Festival next month, on August 25, just two weeks after the movie arrives in theatres. It will be in race-ready condition. The next owner will be able to compete in the GT Cup, Masters, and various events worldwide, but also join a collection of famous film cars.

It is expected to fetch anywhere between $290,000 and $355,000 (225,000 - 275,000 pounds). That would be way above the price of the 2024 Nissan GT-R Nismo, which starts at $220,990. Considering the price of Paul Walker’s GT-R, this one right here seems widely underestimated.

The Nissan GT-R was purchased by RJN Motorsport in 2014. It was upgraded to Nismo specification before it was entered into a full racing program as a factory car, racing for the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN.

A TVR Cerbera Speed 12, which was featured in the Gran Turismo computer game, was sold by the Silverstone Auctions for 601,500 pounds. It was the only TVR-built road car of its kind.

Sony’s movie will hit theatres on August 11. And as you would expect from a car movie, the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 is not the only car showing up. A Lamborghini Huracan and a Porsche 963 hypercar will also be there.