Nissan is preparing a GT-R model for 2015 , which should go head-to-head with Audi, Porsche and Toyota at the Le Mans race . The Japanese manufacturer will also participate in the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship with two LM P1 class cars, for which production will do its utmost to prepare. The Nissan car intended for the LM P1 class will be called the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo. It will thus continue a sporting tradition that has lasted for more than 30 years, and at the same time claim the legacy of Nissan's flagship among road cars – the Nissan GT-R model.
Nissan's program, called LM P1, was launched in East London near Nissan's new global digital headquarters . The announcement took place at the Old Truman Brewery on London's Brick Lane and was attended by Nissan's Director of Planning and Executive Vice President Andy Palmer , Nismo President Shiochi Miyatani and Nismo's Global Director of Marketing and Sales Darren Cox . They were also joined by ACO chairman Pierre Fillon.
True to its reputation as an innovator in sports marketing, Nissan took a deliberately unconventional approach to F1 when it teamed up with Red Bull Racing through its prestigious Infiniti brand . Outside of motorsport, Nissan is an official partner of the UEFA Champions League as part of a new four-year contract. Nissan is also the proud official automotive partner of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"We applaud the ACO and the FIA for the work they have done to set the right rules," Palmer added. “The LM P1 class is not just an arms race – each of our competitors in this class has taken different technical approaches, and we're going to do the same. We want to win in a different way than our opponents. We don't want to come up with another vehicle that is basically just another hybrid similar to Porsche, Audi or Toyota. I think they look pretty much the same. Our intention is to create something a little different.”
Nissan is steadily strengthening its involvement in motorsport, including through innovative programs such as the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy or the ACO's Garage 56 initiative.
The Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 is currently taking part in races around the world – not least in Europe, where Nismo racing drivers, winners of the GT Academy program , will be behind the wheel. The Nissan engine designed for LM P2 class cars represents the best power unit in recent years. The company's enthusiasm for the ACO's Garage 56 initiative is testament to its enthusiasm for technical challenges. All the knowledge that Nissan acquires on the race tracks is reflected in its road cars. Thanks to this, it comes up with technological innovations within the entire range of its products.
"The design and construction of the new Nissan GT-R LM Nismo is a global project with roots firmly in Japan," explained Miyatani . "Team members are designers and technicians from Japan, the United States and Europe. We know that racing in the LM P1 class is very demanding and the competition from the manufacturers is great. But we are determined to increase the competitiveness of our cars and definitely take on these rivals.
We decided to bring the GT-R brand to Le Mans because it symbolizes the best that Nissan has achieved in the racing world. This is a truly ambitious brand: a car that our fans and customers love to drive and own. We have been using the GT-R brand in motorsport (specifically in the GT and GT3 class championships) for many years. The LM P1 class is the toughest test for us. We have a lot to settle at Le Mans and now we have the opportunity to attack with the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo for victory.”
Nissan is open to both racers and motorsport fans. The Nismo brand will dedicate the next six weeks to the #eatsleepRACErepeat campaign , which aims to interact with motorsport fans. The Nismo.TV TV channel continues to provide excellent film and live streaming content to keep fans up to date with all the action. During the Le Mans race , there will also be a live feed from the so-called Le Mans Village, sponsored by Nismo, putting viewers right in the middle of the action.
The goal of the race that has just started is to get a Nissan car onto the grid in the 2015 LM P1 class . The names of the drivers who will sit behind the wheel of the GT-R LM Nismo will be announced continuously. Their selection will take place both within and outside the Nissan family. The date when the new car will take to the race track for the first time, along with the full technical data , will also only be revealed during the preparations, but Nissan's intentions are clear.
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Source: Nissan
