Visiting the mecca of Nissan motorsports

MANILA, Philippines - The name “Nismo” is the contraction of two words: “Nissan” and “motorsports.” It’s a seemingly simplistic name that, to the uninitiated, barely scratches the surface of a company’s achievements in the unforgiving crucible of racing.

Nismo is the motorsports and performance division of Nissan Motor Company. Formed in 1984 as a result of a merger of two motorsport departments, Nismo race cars have participated and won in JSPC, Formula Nippon, Japan Touring Car Championship (JTCC), the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. Nismo currently campaigns in the Super GT and FIA GT Championships.

Originally based beside Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Oppama, japan, NIsmo’s headquarters are now in Yokohama, right at the outskirts of Tokyo.

Needless to say, any visit for Nissan race fans—or any Yokohama tour, for that matter—should mean a visit to the Nismo showroom, which showcases past and present race cars, mouth-watering engine displays, and a wallet-thinning gift and memorabilia shop (which also happen to sell racing and high-performance Nismo parts). Peer through the glass and you’ll see various Nissan and Nismo cars on lifters and service bays being maintained, repaired, or restored, or further modified.

Words aren’t enough to do justice to the awe-inspiring display and collection of these lightning-fast Nissans. Peruse these photos and drool…