Instead of Godzilla sightings, Nissan fans were shocked to see “Skippy” wreak havoc on the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama on Sunday.

The last time Nissan appeared on the mountain in 1992, V8 Supercars great Jim Richards’ Skyline earned the nickname “Godzilla” after it monstered the field to seal back-to-back Bathurst crowns.

Twenty one years later, a much smaller beast was the early focus after the only impact Todd Kelly’s Nissan made on the race was with a kangaroo.

Mount Panorama glory was the motivation as Nissan pumped $16 million and a total of 70 staff into their V8 return this year.

But the giant Japanese manufacturer was no match for Bathurst’s local fauna.

Kelly’s Nissan – piloted by co-driver David Russell – came off second best with the kangaroo on lap 20, ending their race before it could really begin.

Asked what happened, a distraught Russell said: “Skippy jumped out in front.

“You can tick every box but there are things that you just can’t control at Bathurst.”

Kelly – the 2005 champion – was left shattered as his Nissan was retired before getting behind the wheel in the 161-lap epic.

“This is my 16th crack at it but it is probably the toughest,” Kelly said.

“Not being able to get behind the wheel is the hardest to take.”

The Skyline of old had dominated Bathurst, at one stage stretching their 1992 lead by 15 seconds a lap.

Kelly’s Nissan had not even completed 1000km in one test session let alone visited Mount Panorama before.

Kelly claimed V8 rivals had a 15-year head start on his Nissan team when they made their return.

They had battled fuel economy issues.

Engines were still being tweaked just hours ahead of the first Bathurst practice session.

But Nissan had been one of the season’s big improvers with James Moffat claiming a race victory at Winton in August.

And Kelly had dared to dream of more glory on the mountain with all teams forced to make seven mandatory pit stops to cater for Nissan and fellow newcomer Mercedes’ fuel issues.

Instead, 21 years after Richards had infamously described the unimpressed Holden-Ford faithful pelting him with beer cars on the winner’s podium as a “pack of arseholes”, Kelly was no doubt also uttering some colourful language.