Nissan GT-R LM Nismo to join Le Mans, WEC in 2015

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Nissan is set to battle the Audi R18 e-tron, Porsche 919 Hybrid and Toyota TS040 Hybrid in Le Mans next year. The Japanese carmaker will also contest the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship with a full factory effort of two Nissan GT-R LM Nismo race cars.

“We applaud the ACO and FIA for the work they have done to get the rules right. LMP1 is not just an arms race – all our rivals in the class have taken different technical approaches and we will be doing the same,” said Andy Palmer, Nissan’s chief planning officer and executive VP.

“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,” he added.

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“The design and build of the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo is a global project with its DNA firmly rooted in Japan. The team comprises engineers and technical crew from Japan, the US and Europe. We know that LMP1 competition is very tough and with serious manufacturer competition, but we are absolutely determined to make our cars competitive and to operate strongly,” said Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani.

“We have chosen to take the GT-R name to Le Mans as the GT-R symbolises 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 LMP1 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,” Miyatani added.

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The team is in bullish mood. “Believe me, I think this is the car that will go down in the annals of time and be one of those cars which will be long remembered, not only for the fact that it will have won Le Mans but also that it reset the real meaning of Nismo as a link between success on the track and success on the road,” Palmer concluded.

Announcements will be made in due course concerning the drivers, who will come from both inside and outside of the Nissan family. The date the new car will first hit the track and technical specs will also be revealed in due course.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • ‘but we are absolutely determined to make our cars competitive and to operate strongly’

    LOL!

    They finished 50 positions behind an Opel Manta from 1980 at the 24h race on the Nurburgring. They blew up their engine on the first lap and had to work the whole night to change the engine…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
    • Same L0r on May 28, 2014 at 10:55 am

      Proton fanboys were so happy the Satria won in a match no one ever heard of and thought their Preve/Suprima S can conquer the world.

      Race your Proton here first!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 14
      • not a hater on May 29, 2014 at 5:01 pm

        why there always a hater. i dont see any comment cucuk nissan here.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Denaihati on May 27, 2014 at 11:45 pm

    the appearance looks like totally different than previous version. the impressive moto ” Nissan wiki take the Audi, Toyota and Porsche…” will make other racer scared…heee

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Jaybond on May 28, 2014 at 8:52 am

    Nissan was one of the big names in late 1980s & early 1990s Le Mans. Athough they have never won the race, they were a very active contender in world sportscar racing in those days.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • They seems pretty confident, don’t they? This will be epic either way; the “I told you so” smugness or the fall-on-dogshait-flat-on-the-face.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • nissan vrh, rb series was the outcome from nissan involvement in motorsports. These engines are basis for the gtr road car which is awesome. Mclaren m838t road cars are using nissan vrh engines redeveloped by ricardo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Night Hunter on May 28, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    The only Japanese car that ever wins Le Mans is Mazda 787B… according to wiki…

    The 26B was so damn fast…

    I believe it will compete well with the advancement in rotary tech that Mazda made today…

    The organizer was shocked and worried that they ban it right way…

    Bunch of cunts…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • paulz on May 31, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Only the confidence lackeys blasting crap on Nissan pastime without constructive findings is a A-hole celebrities. To me, it’s a new generation gap where everyone comes in to Le Mans and share their tech to the world and continuously built modesty + reliable cars. Thanks to Renault boss Carlos Ghosn smart contribution otherwise they (Nissan) won’t be around in the picture anymore.

    On other hands…Ferrari, Honda and Peugeot has reconsidering to commit to LMP1 project in the future but not so soon…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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