Nissan today revealed plans to return to LMP1 in 2015, the Japanese manufacturer has long been rumoured to be joining the World Endurance Championship as a full factory LMP1 prototype effort.
The designation given to the car is Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, reflecting the name of Nissan’s flagship GT-R road car.
The current Nissan GT-R currently has racing variants in the Japanese GT500 SuperGT championship, as well as the Nissan GT-R GT3 competing in championships internationally.
With the news of Nissan’s announcement for 2015, this places the LMP1 factory manufacturers at four for 2015, with Porsche, Audi and Toyota fielding factory efforts. Nissan currently provides P2 engines globally.
Drivers for Nissan’s LMP1 programme are yet to be announced; however the company has confirmed two prototypes.
Technical details related to the hybrid system of choice additionally are yet to be confirmed. However in my opinion today’s news is certainly exciting for the future of global sportscar racing in the World Endurance Championship.
Nissan have also produced this years Garage 56 project, named the Nissan ZEOD RC, Which has been designed by Ben Bowlby for use in next months Le Mans 24 Hours.
Quotes from Nissan –
“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do,” said Palmer. “There is no better place to demonstrate innovation than here in Europe’s new hot-bed of digital marketing and, from next year, on track at Le Mans. We have chosen this venue – and made it a celebration, rather than yet another press conference – to reflect the fact that when we go racing, we do so differently.”
“We applaud the ACO and FIA for the work they have done to get the rules right,” continued Palmer. “LM P1 is not just an arms race – all our rivals in the class have taken different technical approaches and we will be doing the same. We want to win in a very different way to that of our rivals. We won’t be turning up in a vehicle which is a basically another hybrid that looks like another Porsche, Audi or Toyota – they all look the same to me – our intention is to do something that is a little bit different.”
“The design and build of the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is a global project with its DNA firmly rooted in Japan,” explained Miyatani. “The team comprises engineers and technical crew from Japan, the US and Europe. We know that LM P1 competition is very tough, with serious manufacturer competition, but we are absolutely determined to make our cars competitive and to operate strongly against those competitors.
“We have chosen to take the GT-R name to Le Mans as the GT-R symbolizes the ultimate in Nissan’s performance. It is a true aspirational brand; a car our fans, our customers love to drive, and love to own. We have been using GT-R in motorsport for many years now, in Super GT and GT3. For us LM P1 is the ultimate test. We have unfinished business at Le Mans and now we have our chance to target victory with the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO.”
“You don’t go to Le Mans to just turn up,” said Palmer. “The brief to the team is to go with something different, go with something that brings new technology which is transferable to the road car technology and an approach that is innovative and exciting and of course, go to win.
