nissan choose to skip several rounds of the 1986 season in order to concentrate on development, including the 24 hours of daytona and 12 hours of sebring. the newly named gtp zx-turbo made its season debut in the streets of miami, but this was followed by a string of problems in the future rounds. the car would eventually be able to finish at mid-ohio with a career best of seventh, but electramotive would be able to improve on this with the car showing its first true potential of the season, fighting with the leaders at portland and eventually coming home in third with geoff brabham at the helm. this would be immediately followed at the next round with a fourth-place finish. the success would not last though, as mechanical problems would render the car unable to finish for several rounds. the final race of the season in the streets of columbus would see a distant fifth place, earning nissan seventh in the constructor's championship with their points total.