Project Zed, the Nissan-Engined Dragster

V8-engined dragsters participating in the Super Pro ET, Competitor Eliminator and HKS Series – Pro Class will have their hands full with the latest dragster to join the challenges. Dubbed Project Zed, the hand built dragster will make its debut at the Santa Pod Rasceway, becoming the only Japanese-engined vehicle on the track.

“It’s incredible to finally have the car ready to test now and we are all very excited by its potential. It really is a car that is capable of setting records around the world and just shows what a Nissan engine is capable of producing,” John Bradshaw, owner and driver of Project Zed said in a release.

The hand-built Zed is powered by a Nissan 350Z 3.5l V6 engine, tweaked, squeezed and beaten into developing a breathtaking 1,900 bhp. Enough for the Zed to reach 96 km/h (60 mph) in a neck braking 1.2 seconds, while reaching 270 km/h (167.7 mph) in 4.1 seconds.

The team which will be driving the Zed are not at their first attempt to accomplish something with Japanese sourced vehicles. They already set the fastest quarter mile time in the world for a Nissan Skyline with the help of the Project GTST dragster.

The GTST, a 1997 Nissan Skyline RWD GTST, it is a bit lazier, as it "only" develops 1,150 bhp at the wheels. The engine of the Skyline managed to push the GTST to 177 mph (285 mph) in 7.68 seconds. The GTST is the record holder for the fastest Japanese car in Europe in 2008 and 2009.