NISMO confirms Le Mans bid

NISMO will graduate from the WEC undercard to take on Porsche, Toyota and Audi in 2015. It's official...

In an announcement tonight in London, the Japanese marque confirmed what we thought we all knew – that it would launch a factory effort to win the LMP1 class of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship and the jewel in that series' crown, the 24 Heures du Mans, in 2015.

The full factory effort will comprise two LMP1 cars.

The new racer is yet to be revealed (at the time of writing) but will officially be known as the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO. Nissan says the decision to take the GT-R badge to the premium category at Le Mans is "carrying on a sporting bloodline that stretches back 30 years and recognizes the company's flagship road car, the Nissan GT-R".

Importantly for local Nissan V8 Supercar fans, NISMO President Shoichi Miyatani stated the Le Mans and WEC program will not change NISMO's commitment to its other factory race efforts: SuperGT, GT3, LM P2 and V8s.

Joining the NISMO boss at the London announcement were Le Man's officiating club Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) President Pierre Fillon, Nissan's Executive Vice-President Andy Palmer and NISMO Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, Darren Cox.

The Nissan and NISMO officials praised the FIA and ACO's evolution of the rules of the championship and showcase event, crediting the structure of the regulations for Nissan's participation.

"What the ACO and the FIA have done in developing the new regulations for LM P1 is to create something that is both technologically innovative and provides a key platform for manufacturers like Nissan to talk about subjects like fuel efficiency in an exciting way," NISMO marketing boss Cox stated.

"With the FIA World Endurance Championship we also have the opportunity to test our technology in different markets around the world; that is very important for a global company such as Nissan. Accessibility is also very important for Nissan. We want our fans, our customers to see what happens behind the scenes, to feel like they are part of our team. We sell cars all over the world so we want to race all over the world too," he said.

"In terms of timing, the new LM P1 rules for factory entries are perfect for us... Our schedule is to test the car in October [2014] and run for two full seasons until the end of the current rule cycle," Cox explained.

Nissan is no stranger to Le Mans in recent years. In the LMP2 class, NISMO's petrol V8 has been the engine to beat in LMP2. The company has also supported ACO's Garage 56 initiative with vehicles like the oddball DeltaWing. This year Garage 56 will be home to Nissan's hybrid ZEOD RC which will endeavour to log the first all-electric Le Mans 24 Hour race lap.

Nissan product 'godfather' Andy Palmer says the innovative nature of LMP1 allows Nissan to flex its technical muscles.

"LM P1 is not just an arms race – all our rivals in the class have taken different technical approaches and we will be doing the same. 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 stated.

Despite rumours of links between Nissan and Williams no mention was made of the UK racing specialist in NISMO's reveal tonight.

NISMO boss Miyatani-san says the WEC campaign will be based in Japan.

"The design and build of the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is a global project with its DNA firmly rooted in Japan," he explained.

"The team comprises engineers and technical crew from Japan, the US and Europe. We know that LM P1 competition is very tough and with serious manufacturer competition, but we are absolutely determined to make our cars competitive and to operate strongly against those competitors.

"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 LM P1 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."

No drivers have been named for the WEC program.

Said Cox: "No decisions have been made on drivers...

"Our large talent pool in Japan for Super GT is a big advantage to have, as are the young guys who have come through GT Academy and already have Le Mans experience.

"Our goal is to get the best guys we can to drive the cars – we'll have some drivers who are already within the Nissan 'family', but we'll also have some new additions to the family.

"It doesn't matter what country they're from, the drivers will be chosen on speed and having the right mindset for Nissan and NISMO – not necessarily on nationality," Cox stated.