Nismo GT-R LMP1
Discussion
PW said:
Porsche turned up to Silverstone last year even though it was apparent the car was still in need of development and unreliable - would they make the effort if they really didn't care?
I think they made the effort because they knew they would find things that they perhaps wouldn't discover in testing. As a result, they came pretty close to winning Le Mans at their first attempt!Nissans approach of building a Le Mans special does make a mockery of the WEC a little. I would rather see a couple more P2s or GTE cars than empty garages, because somebody spent all the testing money on a Superbowl advert. I can't help but think the decision to base the team is the USA isn't helping either, everyone else is pounding round the European circuits, ready for the first 4 races.
Edited by RobGT81 on Friday 20th March 07:43
One thing is sure, if they turn up at Test Weekend and start running at LMP2 pace or lower (as opposed to the rumoured just about GTE pace at Sebring), there really can be no excuses and tough questions should be expected to be asked from everybody, organisers and media. They will be judged by their reaction to that scenario, one just hopes that it wouldn't include the word 'withdraw'.
Does anyone know if they have got the rear hybrid system working yet? Not 100% sure but i think i read the early tests (COTA, possibly Sebring) was only running the front engine. (Double checked: Confirmed Sebring was without Hybrid).
It's a shame they are not making the WEC rounds even to go to get running time to develop the car (and to attract the fans to the series) rather than use Le Mans as their first race of which let's be honest is not the place to take a new car and have a issue as the race is so closely battled for and long stops will take you out the running.
Let's hope it makes more than the 23mins the ZEOD managed.
It's a shame they are not making the WEC rounds even to go to get running time to develop the car (and to attract the fans to the series) rather than use Le Mans as their first race of which let's be honest is not the place to take a new car and have a issue as the race is so closely battled for and long stops will take you out the running.
Let's hope it makes more than the 23mins the ZEOD managed.
RJames said:
It's a shame they are not making the WEC rounds even to go to get running time to develop the car (and to attract the fans to the series) rather than use Le Mans as their first race of which let's be honest is not the place to take a new car and have a issue as the race is so closely battled for and long stops will take you out the running.
Let's hope it makes more than the 23mins the ZEOD managed.
They physically can't make SIlverstone or Spa, it's as simple as that. To turn up at the Prologue and thus Silverstone and Spa they need to have a homologated car, thus it's locked in. With their development issues, as per Strakka Dome last year, they don't want that, they want to continue to develop the car more freely before locking it in. The main reason though is that they need to pass the crash test which they marginally failed, and there isn't the time to do that now. Let's hope it makes more than the 23mins the ZEOD managed.
The project is possibly 12 months too early.
RJames said:
Does anyone know if they have got the rear hybrid system working yet? Not 100% sure but i think i read the early tests (COTA, possibly Sebring) was only running the front engine. (Double checked: Confirmed Sebring was without Hybrid).
It's a shame they are not making the WEC rounds even to go to get running time to develop the car (and to attract the fans to the series) rather than use Le Mans as their first race of which let's be honest is not the place to take a new car and have a issue as the race is so closely battled for and long stops will take you out the running.
Let's hope it makes more than the 23mins the ZEOD managed.
Last I read, the car was running 1 flywheel not 2, rear kers was ditched completely due to weight and the lack of the second flysheel, and they were probably in the 4Mj class. Here's hoping it gets better for them, I don't want to see them fail / embarrassed.It's a shame they are not making the WEC rounds even to go to get running time to develop the car (and to attract the fans to the series) rather than use Le Mans as their first race of which let's be honest is not the place to take a new car and have a issue as the race is so closely battled for and long stops will take you out the running.
Let's hope it makes more than the 23mins the ZEOD managed.
Re. the ZEOD, IMO that was a real shame. The only bit of the car that failed was the conventional gearbox -shredded by the unique torque characteristics of the electric bit apparently. Since the CDNT category isn't realy racing at all, I'd have let them repair it and continue as an exhibition, only to be not classified at the end - gives us fans something to look at, doesn't affect the result.
I'm not the ACO though - I clealry know nowt coz I want LMP2 to keep 4+ engine suppliers, not 1...
At this rate they might not even make Le Mans. I would have thought they are better off waiting a year rather than racing at Le Mans without decent hybrid power. Could be a bit embarrassing.
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-rolls-ou...
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-rolls-ou...
I am not sure, like everyone else, quite what is going on but I know that Nissan are setting up for Le Mans only this year. I haven't followed too much the statements on their technology, but if they have a car that can run like the Deltawing - 49 laps without changing tyres for instance and a fuel consumption to die for - then it will be very interesting to watch. I took this photo during qualifying 2012:-
The Zeod lasted such a short time because all they wanted to do was to do one lap on electric power only, and having done it retired the car. Publicity achieved. For the race, with FWD, I am wondering just what their strategy is, but given the precedent of their two prototypes it should be interesting. At least I hope so for us all.
But if people remember, I think the worst example of a comeback was the Jaguar in 2010. It never qualified, the rookie pilots didn't do their allotted number of laps, but they allowed it to start and I forget whether it did two or three laps before disappearing into oblivion. A disgrace.
The Zeod lasted such a short time because all they wanted to do was to do one lap on electric power only, and having done it retired the car. Publicity achieved. For the race, with FWD, I am wondering just what their strategy is, but given the precedent of their two prototypes it should be interesting. At least I hope so for us all.
But if people remember, I think the worst example of a comeback was the Jaguar in 2010. It never qualified, the rookie pilots didn't do their allotted number of laps, but they allowed it to start and I forget whether it did two or three laps before disappearing into oblivion. A disgrace.
Lowdrag,
In general, i'll bow down to your greater experience, but i'm pretty sure the Zeod didn't do an all electric lap in the race - just one of the quali sessions. I also belive they broke the gearbox casing, causing the retirement and didn't stop by choice.
If it did do the all electric lap, then i'm not sure when it did, because i never left trackside whilst it was alive and none of us noticed it go by quietly?
As always, i could be wrong
In general, i'll bow down to your greater experience, but i'm pretty sure the Zeod didn't do an all electric lap in the race - just one of the quali sessions. I also belive they broke the gearbox casing, causing the retirement and didn't stop by choice.
If it did do the all electric lap, then i'm not sure when it did, because i never left trackside whilst it was alive and none of us noticed it go by quietly?
As always, i could be wrong
Some Gump said:
Lowdrag,
In general, i'll bow down to your greater experience, but i'm pretty sure the Zeod didn't do an all electric lap in the race - just one of the quali sessions. I also belive they broke the gearbox casing, causing the retirement and didn't stop by choice.
If it did do the all electric lap, then i'm not sure when it did, because i never left trackside whilst it was alive and none of us noticed it go by quietly?
As always, i could be wrong
I know someone who was on the Zeod team. Mechnical failure did indeed cause the Zeod to retire.In general, i'll bow down to your greater experience, but i'm pretty sure the Zeod didn't do an all electric lap in the race - just one of the quali sessions. I also belive they broke the gearbox casing, causing the retirement and didn't stop by choice.
If it did do the all electric lap, then i'm not sure when it did, because i never left trackside whilst it was alive and none of us noticed it go by quietly?
As always, i could be wrong
They had quite a few body kits that were no longer needed.
Red Firecracker said:
It did it in morning warmup;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpku_34HC88
Undeniably a great achievement, but yes, the gearbox was the weak link all the way through I think. They got through several in practice and quali I seem to remember.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpku_34HC88
Undeniably a great achievement, but yes, the gearbox was the weak link all the way through I think. They got through several in practice and quali I seem to remember.
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