Nissan R90CK #1

The Nissan R90CK #1 is one of the most legendary and extreme Group C endurance racing cars ever produced, representing the peak of Nissan’s turbocharged prototype racing programme during the early 1990s. Developed through a collaboration between Nissan and Lola Cars, the R90CK combined advanced aerodynamics, lightweight construction, and astonishing turbocharged power to create one of the fastest sports prototypes of the Group C era.

Famous for the incredible lap set by Mark Blundell, this is one of Nissan’s 1990 entries in the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Although Mark placed the car at the start of the grid, unfortunately the car was unable to finish the race due to transmission issues, and yet the legend lives on! Pole man Mark Blundell with his team mates Julian Bailey and Gianfranco Brancatelli during the drivers’ parade.

Mark Blundell Nissan R90CK #1 2

Mark Blundell Nissan R90CK #1

Built around a carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis, the R90CK featured highly refined aerodynamic bodywork designed for both the FIA World Sportscar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The sleek closed-cockpit design, sculpted airflow channels, and deep ground-effect tunnels generated substantial downforce while minimising drag, allowing the car to achieve remarkable straight-line speeds on circuits such as Le Mans.

At the heart of the R90CK was Nissan’s fearsome VRH35Z twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V8 engine. Depending on turbo boost settings, the engine produced between 800 and 950 horsepower in race trim, while qualifying configurations could exceed 1,000 horsepower. The explosive power delivery gave the R90CK extraordinary acceleration and made it one of the fastest endurance race cars ever seen. Power was transmitted through a five-speed manual racing gearbox to the rear wheels, while advanced suspension systems provided the stability needed to control the immense performance.

The car became especially famous during qualifying for the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans, when driver Mark Blundell delivered a sensational lap that averaged over 148 mph around the Circuit de la Sarthe. Despite gearbox problems limiting the use of higher gears during the lap, the R90CK achieved one of the fastest qualifying performances in Le Mans history and demonstrated the incredible potential of Nissan’s Group C programme.

Although reliability challenges prevented the R90CK from fully converting its speed into major endurance victories, the car earned legendary status among motorsport enthusiasts. Today, Nissan R90CK #5 is celebrated as one of the most spectacular Group C prototypes ever built, remembered for its brutal turbocharged power, extraordinary Le Mans speed, and iconic place in endurance racing history.

F1’s Max Chilton drives the R90CK
The 73rd annual Members meeting at Goodwood in March saw ex Formula 1 driver, Max Chilton take the hot seat in our 1990 Le Mans pole lap winning Nissan.

The current Nissan works driver delighted in the experience and felt it had pumped him up for his races ahead.

Nissan R90CK #01 Max Chiltern