Now that Lexus and Honda have both revealed their new contenders for the 2014 Super GT GT500 series, Nissan is announcing their new weapon, the 2014-spec GT-R Nismo. The car will make its first public appearance at the Nismo Festival at Fuji Speedway before gearing up for the new season.

The Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500, as great as it might be, does not manage to still the thunder of the new boys from Honda and Lexus – the LF-CC and the NSX Concept. The performance of those cars are yet to be put to test, but they are more interesting prospects than the aging GT-R due to their fresh new designs; the fact that they will soon spawn production models; and the fact that they both have hybrid powertrains.

The Japanese Super GT series have undergone major regulation changes for the new season modeled on the DTM (German Touring Car Championship), to make the car more equal and the racing more intense and exciting. Engine-related regulations remain the same though, and we’re looking forward to see what Nissan has in store for the GT-R.