Learn how to drive, says Nissan to Porsche

The Nurburgring bragging rights war is beginning to turn nasty, with Porsche and Nissan embroiled in a slanging match over the latter's claim earlier this year that it had clocked a blistering 7min 29sec lap of the 'Ring in a showroom-spec GT-R.

Porsche opened fire last month by saying there was no way in (the green) hell that a GT-R could have accomplished that time without semi-slick racing tyres and various other mods.

To back up this assertion, Porsche 911 product chief August Achleitner admitted the German sports car specialist had even purchased a GT-R to see if the feat was achievable, but said a 7min 54sec lap was the best they could squeeze out of the Jap supercar.

Nissan has obviously taken offence at Porsche's insinuation and the company has since fired back, suggesting the Zuffenhausen boffins must have neither properly run-in the GT-R, nor learned how to extract the most from its AWD system.

The Japanese carmaker insists the benchmark-setting Godzilla was on standard Dunlop SP SPORT 600 DSST CTT rubber and has even invited anyone curious enough to go and see the hoops for themselves at Sumitomo Rubber Industries in Japan.

What's more, Nissan says that rather then being doctored, the GT-R used for the Nurburgring run was in fact weighed down by 50kg of telemetry gear.

It gets better though, as Nissan has also offered to give any interested carmakers lessons on how to extract the GT-R's full potential, which is probably a nice way of saying Porsche's driver didn't really know what he was doing.

"We are aware that several auto makers have purchased the GT-R for their own testing and evaluation," said Nissan in a statement.

"We would welcome the opportunity to help any auto manufacturer with understanding the full capabilities of the GT-R."

Hmmm... there's probably more to come in this saga. Meanwhile, you can amuse yourself by clicking here to view the official footage of Godzilla's 7min 29sec lap.

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