Recreation Royalty: HKS Group A R32 GT-R To Be Displayed At Japfest
If there’s one car that defines touring car dominance in the early ‘90s, it’s the HKS Group A R32 Skyline GT-R. Nicknamed ‘Godzilla’ for a reason, it rewrote the rulebook in motorsport – and now, one of the most obsessive recreations ever built is heading to Japfest Silverstone. Built by the legendary Ric Wood Motorsport, this isn’t your average tribute build. This is a painstaking, high-end recreation of the original HKS race car, crafted with an almost forensic level of detail that blurs the line between replica and race-ready legend.
Recreating a Monster
The original HKS R32 wasn’t just fast – it was untouchable. Built to dominate Group A touring car racing, it combined cutting-edge tech with brutal RB26 power, rewriting what was possible from a production-based platform. This recreation takes that legacy seriously. It’s not about looks alone. Every inch of the car has been engineered to mirror the spirit and performance DNA of the original. From its period-correct styling and livery to its race-inspired RB26 setup, authentic stripped-out interior and track-focused chassis, the car captures exactly what made the original so feared on track. The result is a machine that doesn’t just look like the HKS R32 – it feels like it belongs on the grid at Bathurst. What makes this Skyline even more special is the philosophy behind it. In a world full of cheque-book builds, this car represents true craftsmanship. Ric Wood Motorsport is known for its deep-rooted expertise in historic motorsport engineering, and this project reflects that perfectly. It’s not about throwing parts at a car, it’s about recreating history with precision, respecting the original while making it usable and relevant today. You’re looking at countless hours of research, fabrication and fine-tuning to get every detail just right.
Japfest Silverstone: The Perfect Stage
Japfest has always been the home of the UK’s wildest and most iconic Japanese builds, but this year’s lineup is on another level. You’ll be able to catch this incredible HKS R32 replica on the Liqui Moly stand, where it’s guaranteed to draw serious attention all day long. Seeing it in person is something else entirely. Photos don’t capture the presence of the car. It’s a tribute to one of the most dominant race cars ever built, brought back to life by a company that truly understands what made it special in the first place.
For fans of JDM, motorsport history, or simply insane attention to detail, this is the kind of build that stops you in your tracks.