Version 1 of the Litchfield LM1-RS
If you own one of Nissan finest, tune them or you are just a GTR enthusiast then you will know all about the awe-inspiring LM1-RS belonging to our good friend Anthony Gaylard, 1200BHP of lightweight, stripped out road going racer built for one thing, to go fast as well as a sub 7 minute attack around the famous Nordschleife, yes the green hell AKA the Nurburgring, and last year he did exceedingly well turning in a very, very respectable time of 6.47, to be honest in our opinion any car that run a sub 7 minutes around the ring is a pretty special car, as well as a pretty special driver, because it takes massive balls, lets put it into context of exactly what the Porsche 919 has achieved with the all out record in June this year with a 5:19 time, we like everyone else were flabbergasted, especially done in the celebration of 70 years of Porsche.
Not satisfied with his 2017 challenge Anthony wanted more but knew in its current form it probably wasn't going to go any quicker, the standard OEM carbon body work can only house a certain amount of rim and tyre width when it comes to set up, it really was at its maximum of grip and if you want more you need more contact patch, so at the end of last year it was back into the workshop at ELWELD-FAB to undergo some serious upgrades, and when we say serious we mean SERIOUS, it was to be completely stripped down and transformed in to a completely different looking GTR, faster, more grip, better brakes, as well as being a lot, lot, wider, and with this mind-set it would go a lot quicker than the times set 12 months previously, so with the end of August 2018 pencilled in, it was balls out time, and what we can tell you is version two of his mind blowing GTR is even more immense, sorry we meant insane... in fact it's both.
The beginning of phase 2 of the LM1-RS Build
The one area where the GTR has never suffered is the engine and with 1200 BHP of Lichfield Motors enhancement that has been caressed from its engine so this beast doesn't hang about, especially as its shredded so much weight with the car weighing in at 1425 kg, so the engine will remain as it is, and that’s a good thing as this GTR is brutal..
One area we were surprised to hear of being upgraded were the brakes, its already had 410 mm carbon ceramic with the best Alcon CCX callipers, but believe it or not Alcon make better and for this build Anthony wanted the very best, as it really doesn't get any better than the Alcon GTE set up, the same set up that you see on the Roger Clarke Gobstopper 11 Subaru, or the Aston Martin GTE race car, this is the pinnacle when it comes to brake set up, its immense, this little super lightweight set up will be wrapped around a slightly smaller 380 mm carbon ceramic discs, just on the Callipers alone Anthony is saving 3 to 4 kg per corner, the dedication to shred the weight through fitting the right parts and the material that being used is astonishing. Alcon have also supplied the amazing adjustable pedal box so the seat can be permanently fixed, to say things have got even more serious is a complete understatement, this is an incredible build with the very best parts available that the market has to offer, Anthony is a man on a mission.
Alcon Stoppers, the amazing GTE Calliper
Alcon have also supplied the amazing adjustable pedal box so the seat can be permanently fixed, to say things have got even more serious is a complete understatement, this is an incredible build with the very best parts available that the market has to offer.
Another serious upgrade has been the exhaust system, which we have to say is a complete work of art, as well as all the fabrication work, all put together by the talents of Elliot of ELWELD-FAB, Anthony wanted the wider body work from the GT3 so the decision was to re-route the exhaust system either side of the car within the side skirts, which is the same as the GT3 set up, manufactured from Inconel alloy, this is an F1 grade and specification exhaust set up, it really doesn't get any better, apart from the heat shield that has been fabricated and welded to the exhaust system by the guys at Good Fabrications, who then baked it in the oven for the stunning gold finish that now adorns the full exhaust system, as we said only the best materials for this GTR.
ELWELD-FAB Nissan GTR inconel GTR Exhaust System, Good Fabrications exhaust heat shield
When fitting wider bodywork you will always need a wider wheel and tyre set up, and this GTR is no different, the original plan was to stick with the 19" set up only wider but Anthony did some homework and after a good chat with the technical guru's at Michelin decided on the 325/30R21 Michelin Sport Cup 2 R compound, this tyre is fitted to the rear on the Porsche 991 GT2-RS and has been jointly developed between Porsche and Michelin, so it’s the tyre to have on this particular build, and as the road going GTR already sit on 20 inch the upgrade is pretty straightforward as the profile of the 21" square set up will remain the same as the road set up, the tricky part is to obtain a light weight wheel that would house the 325 tyre, as well as fill the extra 4" of width that the GT3 kit adds to the stock OEM bodywork of the GTR.
Elweld-Fab Inconel Exhaust Construction, with some neat fabrication
In our new range for 2018 we have added forged Magnesium wheels, we did consider running carbon fibre barrels, but the heat that these brakes will generate as well as the pounding around the Nurburgring, we decided a light weight magnesium was the better option, we just had to make sure it was light and strong, so a 2 piece wheel with the RS5 centre from our partners at Litespeed was the design of choice, and at Just under the 11 kg for a 12.5x21 with a huge negative offset front and rear, we have managed to get the wheel weight down using a magnesium centre, with so many other amazing advantages of forged magnesium wheels, rotational inertia being another huge factor, as well as heat dissipation.
The last two weeks of this build has been extremely stressful for all involved, the Litchfield crew have worked tirelessly get not only one but 2 cars ready for the Nordschleife assault, and meeting the guys for the first time this week, we can understand why they have the monopoly of the GTR market, as these guys are just leagues ahead, they really have set the quality bar very high, and they are a credit to our industry, leading by example, and testing their remarkable products not just on the road but the track too, we have felt very privileged to be involved in this build, and it’s a build that will be seen and admired all over the world.
Gentlemen please take a bow and enjoy the track time in this epic machine, with the vision of this completely crazy but infectious Aussie, from looking at our render which he has now made a mind blowing reality, Kudos my friend.
Anthony Gaylard Nissan LMR-RS GTR GT3, Specification list 2017
Full Momentum Motorsport chassis build
FIA Cage as per the GT3
Litchfield Sport engine 1200 bhp
Borger Warner Turbos 7163
Cams/head work
Inconel Manifolds with 6mm ceramic wrap and 1mm Inconel foil wrap.
Powerflex (it’s the best of everything they have, I don’t know engines lol))
Dodson full box and extreme clutch Chris Tullet Twin 3 inch side exit with 6mm
ceramic wrap and 1mm stainless foil wrap.
Litchfield Race Intercooler
Litchfield Race Radiator
Aircon Delete kit Race Alternator
Full fire extinguisher kit
CCX Ceramic Brakes
Ohlins TTX
Motec M1 ECU
Motec C187 Dash Display and Logger in custom carbon mounting
Motec T2 Telemetry
Motec PDM KeyPad
Motec PDM
Bosch M4 GT3 ABS
Bosch WDA (Single Wiper)
Tilton Pedal box
Nismo GT3 carbon Flat floor
Nimso GT3 Complete carbon doors
Nimso GT3 carbon Hood
Nismo GT3 carbon Bumper
Nismo GT3 carbon Dive plans
Nismo GT3 carbon Splitter
Nimso GT3 carbon wing
Nismo GT3 carbon mirrors
Custom Full carbon rear QTR panels.
AMS carbon boot
AMS carbon Roof
Lexan rear and qtr windows
2015 headlights
Tilletts carbon seats
Custom Elweld diffuser
Custom ELweld side entry rear ventura
cooling with 4 radiators for Engine/Transmission/diff/fuel.
Custom Elweld venting at the front for Intercooler/Brakes/Air-intake/diff
Ray G25 wheel and Dymag Boxstrom 7Y Michelin cup 2
2018 LM1-RS 2018 upgrades
Full GT3 carbon fibre aero, with 2017 rear bumper / light panel and Diffuser
Alcon Adjustable peddle box
Alcon GTE brakes 380 mm Ceramic Discs
Inconel side exit exhaust system
New side vents and aero down force overhaul
Litchfield Motors Paint Protection system, including full repaint
12.5x21 Forged Magnesium 2 piece wheels, with Titanium Hardware
325/30R21 Michelin Cup 2 R compound / Pirelli Trofeo R
The LM1-RS under construction at Litchfield Motors
Light weight carbon quick release doors, full GT3 carbon fibre aero pack, custom air intakes for optimum down force, Full FIA roll cage, all meticulously put together
Ready to terrorise on the road and track.