Nismo GT-R LMP1

Nismo GT-R LMP1

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Discussion

Some Gump

12,671 posts

185 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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To be fair, if the hybrid worked, the whole situation would be different.

Nissan don't make the hybrid part. However, they're classier than Red Bull, and have not simply slated the st out of their partner. Can't hate them for that..

Printertosh

563 posts

167 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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24lemons said:
The way I interpreted it was their original plans had do be scaled back (for this year at least) due to problems they encountered during testing, Failing the crash test, the problems with the hybrid unit and the deadline for homologation which became impossible to meet due to those things.
This is along the lines of what I heard from 2 sources. Not sure they planned to mislead although marketing department probably don't know what a steering wheel is for, never mind a hybrid unit biggrin

I'm still looking forward to seeing it on track, even if it's not going to be a front runner smile

24lemons

2,629 posts

184 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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PW said:
If they were being open, we should have known they weren't ready then, not find out 3 months later.
The reasons for missing the beginning of the season were explained at the time. They have used the time available to conduct extensive testing in the hope of overcoming any issues that arise in the course of developing a new car.

I would imagine that they tried everything in their power to ensure that they were ready and able to run as planned before throwing in the towel. You certainly don't make that decision with a quarter of a year to go.


Red Firecracker

5,276 posts

226 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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I think missing Silverstone and Spa is very easy to explain and has nothing to do with deception. The tub failed the crash test and there just wasn't enough time to put in the fixes, homologate the car and get it to Silverstone. With Spa being so soon after, there was no point as the rush would have been just the same.

What they then did was use as already established process to skip a race or two. That's not unique to Nissan, Strakka missed the whole of last season, despite planning to do the last race but ran into homologation issues. SARD Morand (that was) missed Silverstone. It's a championship that needs give and take from both the teams and entrants to grow and succeed and luckily that is what is happening without too draconian sanctions being employed.

DubaiMike

57 posts

151 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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There was a car on static display at the Nurburgring 24h. A very interesting looking machine. I'm looking forward to seeing it race.

Country5

29 posts

141 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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A tweet from Nissan

  1. 22 #GTRLeMans unpacked and in place at our new home near Silverstone. Not long though until we ship out for #LM24! http://t.co/KAnS2zlUHm
Can't upload the picture from my phone but just shows the 1 car in a garage for three. Probably all we'll see at Le Man?

Red Firecracker

5,276 posts

226 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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Country5 said:
A tweet from Nissan

  1. 22 #GTRLeMans unpacked and in place at our new home near Silverstone. Not long though until we ship out for #LM24! http://t.co/KAnS2zlUHm
Can't upload the picture from my phone but just shows the 1 car in a garage for three. Probably all we'll see at Le Man?
Nope, all three will be there.

RobGT81

5,227 posts

185 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Nissan situated in the row of woe garages at Le Mans, never a good sign!

OvalOwl

924 posts

130 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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The Zeod was in garage 56 last year so they are probably going with what they know. Are the other factory teams where they were last year? Audi where the gap used to be, Toyota at pit in and Porsche somewhere in the middle?

RobGT81

5,227 posts

185 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Looks that's way. Some big paddock buildings this year.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/05/22/le-mans-p...

Red Firecracker

5,276 posts

226 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
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Here's this years layout;

http://www.24h-lemans.com/wpphpFichiers/1/1/ressou...

Darren Cox stated on the N24 commentary that pit out is the preferred place to be in an endurance race, even with the restrictions on your hospitality at Le Mans due to location. Not to sure I buy that, but it segregates the factory P1 teams nicely.

zebedee

4,589 posts

277 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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Printertosh said:
This is along the lines of what I heard from 2 sources. Not sure they planned to mislead although marketing department probably don't know what a steering wheel is for, never mind a hybrid unit biggrin

I'm still looking forward to seeing it on track, even if it's not going to be a front runner smile
Find Darren Cox, have a chat with him, then tell us what their marketing team know about motorsport.

zebedee

4,589 posts

277 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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RobGT81 said:
... It appears they entered the WEC purely to get the Le Mans entries, again without having to put the work in.
I'm fairly sure they will have been putting an awful lot of work in.

zebedee

4,589 posts

277 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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Well how about 1600bhp next year then...

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/05/27/catching-...

If they can get this car to the finish in the top 10 it would be an amazing result, if we see moments of brilliance on the straights or easier overtaking bringing them back up through the field after the inevitable problem, then the car will be noticed and the job for this year will be done. I am very excited indeed about it, this year should be an absolute classic and the inclusion of this car, or 3 of them, is one of the reasons for that.

Printertosh

563 posts

167 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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zebedee said:
Printertosh said:
This is along the lines of what I heard from 2 sources. Not sure they planned to mislead although marketing department probably don't know what a steering wheel is for, never mind a hybrid unit biggrin

I'm still looking forward to seeing it on track, even if it's not going to be a front runner smile
Find Darren Cox, have a chat with him, then tell us what their marketing team know about motorsport.
I'll be too busy enjoying myself to speak to anyone in marketing who ever they work for!
beerdrink

stuckmojo

2,955 posts

187 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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zebedee said:
Well how about 1600bhp next year then...

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/05/27/catching-...

If they can get this car to the finish in the top 10 it would be an amazing result, if we see moments of brilliance on the straights or easier overtaking bringing them back up through the field after the inevitable problem, then the car will be noticed and the job for this year will be done. I am very excited indeed about it, this year should be an absolute classic and the inclusion of this car, or 3 of them, is one of the reasons for that.
So, basically, what the designer is saying is that this car is only designed to work at high speed on a straight line, at Le Mans, and trying to overtake or challenge other cars in corners is "not smart racing".

Not exactly "entertaining racing"...

and probably entirely useless on any other circuit.

But in terms of marketing and media exposure, Nissan have already won. I don't like this at all.


Red Firecracker

5,276 posts

226 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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I read that slightly differently. There is a big issue at the moment, especially within the GT and LMP2 ranks, of their respective top speeds being too similar, the big difference in performance being under braking. This leads to more extreme do or die efforts into corners to make the pass. This leads to contact and this leads to time in the pits.

What Bowlby has done is to try and alleviate that issue so that the pass can get done before the corner, leading to a more optimal line through the corner and hopefully less contact, meaning less time in the pits. Less time in the pits is what wins you races.

Whatever your thoughts on the validity of the project, from competition or marketing viewpoints, it would be awfully sad if the WEC went the way of F1 and regulated out innovative thinking and expression, the price of that however is that you do need to accept the marketing element.

Personally, I think they'll be lucky to see sunrise, but I think the race would be poorer without them. I was a massive sceptic before Silverstone, but when you wander into their garage and get offered the opportunity to sit in the (show) car without any pressure to hurry along, it does make a difference. There was no scrum in the garage, the fans all responded to the team's attitude and waited their turns, chatted and everything was extremely pleasant. The WEC is already very very fan friendly, but to their credit Nissan are taking the ball and running with it.

RobGT81

5,227 posts

185 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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It's ok blasting passed cars on the straights but getting stuck behind cars at the Porsche Curves can be even more costly.

The claims were for 2000hp this year originally! :-/

Some Gump

12,671 posts

185 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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Jame5 said:
Nismo got in touch with some pics they didnt mind me sharing.

Did the GTP one again...

Have you seen the news on Autosport today?
If you were the first to send them this photo, they owe you a pitlane visit IMO =)