Mines, a renowned Japanese tuning house, has consistently pushed the boundaries of Nissan R35 GT-R performance. Their meticulously tuned GT-Rs have achieved remarkable lap times, demonstrating their expertise in car tuning. This article explores Mines’ impressive track record with the R35, highlighting key performance milestones and showcasing their dominance in the Japanese tuning scene.
Mines GT-R Sets Record Lap Times at Fuji Speedway
Mines’ relentless pursuit of performance led to breaking the 1:50 barrier at Fuji Speedway on February 12, 2009. Professional race car driver Eiji Yamada piloted their tuned R35 GT-R to a stunning lap time of 1:49.782. Remarkably, this was achieved with a street-tuned car using stock tires. Mines further refined the exhaust, boost system, and ECU, showcasing their deep understanding of the GT-R’s potential. This achievement solidified their position as a leader in GT-R tuning in Japan. Prior to this, on February 29, 2008, Super GT driver Yasushi Kikuchi recorded a lap time of 1:51.258 at the same track, demonstrating continuous improvement in Mines’ tuning program. Even earlier, in December 2007, at a Rev Speed press event, a minimally modified Mines R35 GT-R, with only slight suspension adjustments, achieved a best lap of 1:54.688 at Fuji Speedway, outperforming two stock R35 GT-Rs from competing tuning shops which recorded times in the low 1:56s.
Tsukuba Circuit Domination
Mines’ success extended beyond Fuji Speedway. On February 15, 2008, at Tsukuba Circuit’s Course 2000, Tetsuya Yamano, a Japan Gymkhana champion and Super GT driver, clocked an impressive 0:59.367 lap time. Furthermore, on January 13, 2008, legendary driver Keiichi Tsuchiya drove a Mines R35 GT-R on the TV Tokyo show “Gekiso GT,” achieving a lap time of 1:01.940 at Tsukuba Circuit, beating a Porsche 911 Twin Turbo by almost two seconds in a time attack and subsequently winning a three-lap race despite an eight-of-a-mile handicap.
Early Success with the R35
Mines’ involvement with the R35 GT-R began immediately upon its release. On December 6, 2007, the same day Nissan started delivering the R35, a Mines-tuned GT-R participated in a Rev Speed time attack event. Driven by Takayuki Kinoshita, the car recorded a time of 1:03.143, signaling Mines’ early commitment to extracting maximum performance from the new platform.
Mines: A Legacy of Performance
Mines’ consistent record of achieving remarkable lap times with the R35 GT-R underscores their mastery of Japanese car tuning. Their modifications consistently improve performance, showcasing a dedication to pushing the limits of what’s possible with the GT-R platform. Mines has firmly established itself as a leading force in the world of Japanese performance tuning, specifically within the niche of Nissan GT-R modifications.
