Nissan's recent involvement with Le Mans has been fascinating, what with the
Deltawing
ZEOD
ready to amaze at LM 2014. Now for 2015 Nissan has confirmed a NISMO LMP1 entry, creating a four-way battle for overall victory next year.
To be called the GT-R LM NISMO, Nissan has launched the project today in London. And 23 May is an important date, with 2 pronounced 'ni' in Japanese and 3 'san'. And wouldn't you know it, the pronunciation of 5 is 'go'. In Japan the month comes first so May 23 is effectively go Nissan. Really.
Anyway, cultural education over, there's understandably a great deal of excitement at Nissan about the project. With the GT Academy as well as the racing GT-Rs and V8 Supercars, Nissan already has a wide motorsport repertoire and the new LMP1 regulations made the move worthwhile and will bolster the line up further. Andy Palmer, Nissan's Vice-President said "It's going to approach Le Mans within the rules but it's going to be very different in that approach and obviously that will hopefully mean that it will be very iconic in its appearance."
Of course with its race debut so far off, there's little confirmed about the GT-R LM NISMO. We know it will be testing in October but there aren't any drivers confirmed yet. NISMO's global head of marketing and sales Darren Cox said there will be a mix, with "some drivers who are already within the Nissan "family", but we'll also have some new additions to the family".
It wants and needs the quickest drivers because NISMO has real intentions to win Le Mans and rounds of the World Endurance Championship. NISMO's president Shoichi Miyatani is well aware of NISMO's challenge: "To win LMP1 is not easy, it is going to be very difficult, especially at Le Mans. You don't know what is going to happen in just one hour, let alone what will happen over the course of 24 hours."
What does an LMP1 car called 'GT-R' mean for the road car? It's probably too early to call right now but expect racing technology to filter down in the same way it has previously, hybrid and all.
Buried away in NISMO's bumf about the GT-R LM NISMO is a brief mention of past events at Le Mans, with a third place achieved by the R390 back in '98. That was behind Porsche so can the places be switched in the 21st century?
So just when you thought a three-way battle for victory was going to make this year's Le Mans a belter, it promises to go one better in 2015. Keep tabs on Nissan's #eatsleepRACErepeat hashtag for info and expect a lot more from PH on the GT-R LM NISMO soon.
PHers are already discussing Nissan's return to Le Mans (keen bunch!). Join the chat here.
NISMO GT-R LM intro video here.