Nissan chose the extremely popular (and no doubt expensive) air time during the Super Bowl to unveil its 2015 Le Mans challenger, the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo. We see glimpses of the GT-R LM Nismo in Nissan’s “With Dad” commercial (see below) a car that will race at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans later this year.
The Japanese manufacturer has gone against the grain and created a front-engined, front wheel drive racer that is powered by a 3,0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine and a kinetic energy recovery system. All other cars that compete in the top-flight LMP1 class are mid-engined and rear or all-wheel drive in arrangement. Nissan claim peak power of 938 kW of combined power from the internal combustion engine and electrical motor.
The new car will contest the LMP1 class of the eight round FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the highest category in world sports car racing. The WEC is currently contested by three other works teams including Audi, Porsche and Toyota. Nissan, of course, are no strangers to competing at La Sarthe as the team is a regular engine supplier to LMP2 teams, in fact one quarter of the grid was powered by Nissan at the 2014 race.
“This is innovation that excites,” said Shoichi Miyatani, President of Nismo. “Sustainability is at the top of our agenda and the technical regulations for Le Mans give us the freedom to pursue new ideas in this area. Our record at Le Mans is third place overall so we have unfinished business there. We want to win and we have the knowledge to do that – for our customers, our employees and our fans. The competition is exceptionally strong and we are excited by the challenge.”
Nissan has already been testing its latest charge in the US at the Circuit if the Americas track in Austin, Texas. Considering the innovative approach taken by the new LMP1 entrants all eyes will be on the red car at the opening round of the WEC at Silverstone in April.
Experienced endurance racer and ex-F1 pilot Marc Gene has already signed up to do driving duties in the GT-R LM Nismo for the year ahead though there has been no confirmation as yet regarding who his team mates will be.
