New Remote Control Nissan Race Car

Published Date: 12th Oct 2017

To celebrate Nissan’s long term relationship with polyphony digital and their soon to be released new video game, Gran Turismo Sport, they’ve decided to make the ultimate radio controlled race car.

New Remote Control Nissan Race Car on the pit straight at Silverstone circuit

This one-off new project saw Nissan GB team up with JLB Design Ltd, using a standard specification 542bhp V6 2011 R35 GT-R.

Nissan has always been at the forefront of ingenuity and innovation in motorsport for the past 80 years, combining technology and performance for that competitive edge. Since 2008 they’ve also been heavily involved in finding motorsport more accessible to everyone, holding competitions in video games for the winners to then move onto the GT academy. This is the final selection process whereby the winner gets to be a professional driver and swap the couch for the racing bucket seat.

Named the GT-R/C, JLB Design fitted the driverless Nissan with four robots for the braking, steering, transmission and throttle. A total of six computers are located in the boot to monitor and constantly update the inputs from the playstation controller up to 100 times per second, making sure the input times are reduced.

New Nissan GT-Radio Controlled

New Remote Control Nissan Race Car alongside the chase helicopter at silverstone race circuit.

The playstation controller remains standard with no modifications, but it does connect to a micro computer that interprets the joystick movements and buttons before feeding them on to the car up to 1 kilometre away.

Safety systems were also used to work independently from the other car controls, as two other operators could engage full ABS braking and cut the engine in the event of a malfunction or loss of control.

Nissan chose former GT academy graduate Jann Mardenborough, to take control of the car for some hot laps around the Silverstone circuit. To keep up with the car around the circuit a small helicopter was used to fly Jann around following the track, he also had an LCD screen with the engines rpm and speed beamed directly from the car so he could accurately judge braking and cornering speed.

New Remote Control Nissan Race Car Inside the car showing the steering wheel motors

James Brighton, JLB Design Ltd commented; “The GT-R /C presented some unique challenges and a number of engineering firsts for us. We had to ensure the robotics would operate effectively during fast acceleration/deceleration as well as high cornering g-forces; deliver realistic and reassuring control of the car at all speeds; and maintain a robust connection between the car and the playstation controller over variable distances and with minimal latency in robot response times.