Gallery: The Nismo Festival

The track itself was built in 1966 and is actually owned by Toyota. It was originally designed as a NASCAR-style oval before the owners re-designed it. 

You could get really close to the cars in the paddock. 

The fourth floor of the grandstand featured a cluster of original Skylines from the Zama museum.

This Skyline R31 was highly developed for its time. 

The R32 marked the start of the Skyline craze. 

The R33 followed it and was even more sophisticated. 

This is an immaculate R34.

You can really see the influence of US muscle cars in this 1973 GT-R.

And there are shades of Pontiac GTO in this original 1969 GT-R.

As well as road cars there were a host of stunning Skyline racing cars.

This GT 500 GT-R was one of the stars of the event.

These Datsun Sunny racers have high-revving twin-cam four-cylinder engines and sound almost as loud as the GT500 GT-Rs.

Anyone see shades of MK1 Ford Escort in this Datsun SSS Bluebird Coupe? 

There were plenty of weird and wonderful customisers at the NISMO Festival. 

A Skyline racer sponsored by British sports clothing company Reebok. 

These 1930s Datsuns had competed in a cross-Australia race.

Rallying is certainly in Nissan's blood. 

A pair of Sunny racers in stunning liveries.

Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones advertises Boss canned coffee in Japan.

GT500 GT-R racers are incredibly fast, loud and aggressive to look at.

They're a long way removed from the GT-R road car, being rear-drive with bespoke chassis and 500bhp V8 engines.

Racers battle it out in the first corner. Originally this had 30 degree banking, but it was changed to a flat turn in 1974. 

Answers on a postcard.

There was a great atmosphere provided by the 20,000-strong crowd.

Without doubt the world's meanest Micra.

The Fuji Speedway straight is one mile long. GTR-500 cars reach 180mph before braking for the first corner. 

Japan GT series drivers were in big demand – this was the queue for autographs.