Nissan: GT-R LM NISMO News
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18,015
Likes: 1,429
From: NYC
Nissan: GT-R LM NISMO News
Nissan announced that it will prepare a works LMP1 prototype, to be named the GT-R, with which to go head to head with Audi, Porsche and Toyota at Le Mans in 2015. The Japanese manufacturer will also contest the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship with a full factory effort for two cars. Nissan's LM P1 car will be called the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, carrying on a sporting bloodline that stretches back 30 years and recognizes the company's flagship road car, the Nissan GT-R.
Nissan's new program was launched close to Nissan's new global digital hub in East London, UK. ACO President Pierre Fillon joined Nissan's Chief Planning Office & Executive Vice-President Andy Palmer; NISMO President Shoichi Miyatani and NISMO Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, Darren Cox, for the announcement.
"Innovation is at the heart of everything we do," said Palmer. "There is no better place to demonstrate innovation than here in Europe's new hot-bed of digital marketing and, from next year, on track at Le Mans. We have chosen this venue – and made it a celebration, rather than yet another press conference – to reflect the fact that when we go racing, we do so differently."
"We applaud the ACO and FIA for the work they have done to get the rules right," continued Palmer. "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. 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."
Nissan will return to Le Mans next month with its revolutionary ZEOD RC, in a bid to become the first manufacturer to complete a lap of the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe entirely on electric power. Although details on the GT-R LM NISMO's power train and hybrid systems – which are mandatory under the new LMP1 regulations – were not been released, although it is expected that there will be some technology transfer from the ZEOD program
Cox said the LMP1 car will begin testing in October. No drivers were announced, although it is expected that drivers from Nissan's factory Super GT effort as well as its involvement in GT3, LMP2 and the GT Academy program will be involved.
Nissan's new program was launched close to Nissan's new global digital hub in East London, UK. ACO President Pierre Fillon joined Nissan's Chief Planning Office & Executive Vice-President Andy Palmer; NISMO President Shoichi Miyatani and NISMO Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, Darren Cox, for the announcement.
"Innovation is at the heart of everything we do," said Palmer. "There is no better place to demonstrate innovation than here in Europe's new hot-bed of digital marketing and, from next year, on track at Le Mans. We have chosen this venue – and made it a celebration, rather than yet another press conference – to reflect the fact that when we go racing, we do so differently."
"We applaud the ACO and FIA for the work they have done to get the rules right," continued Palmer. "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. 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."
Nissan will return to Le Mans next month with its revolutionary ZEOD RC, in a bid to become the first manufacturer to complete a lap of the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe entirely on electric power. Although details on the GT-R LM NISMO's power train and hybrid systems – which are mandatory under the new LMP1 regulations – were not been released, although it is expected that there will be some technology transfer from the ZEOD program
Cox said the LMP1 car will begin testing in October. No drivers were announced, although it is expected that drivers from Nissan's factory Super GT effort as well as its involvement in GT3, LMP2 and the GT Academy program will be involved.
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18,015
Likes: 1,429
From: NYC
GT-R LM Testing Begins
The new Nissan LMP1 factory program has ventured out from its temporary base in Southern California to conduct its first test at the Nissan Technical Center in Stanfield, Ariz.
The nature of the test is unknown, although with a secluded 5.7-mile facility at its disposal, a variety of options would exist for the team while running without fear of onlookers exposing their new-for-2015 Le Mans challenger penned by designer Ben Bowlby.
Everything from basic systems tests, hydraulic tests and straightline running would be normal testing items for the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO chassis.
A Nissan Motorsport spokesman was non-committal when asked about the test: "The LMP1 program continues to run to schedule. Our official launch and all associated information will be communicated in due course but certainly not before the New Year."
The nature of the test is unknown, although with a secluded 5.7-mile facility at its disposal, a variety of options would exist for the team while running without fear of onlookers exposing their new-for-2015 Le Mans challenger penned by designer Ben Bowlby.
Everything from basic systems tests, hydraulic tests and straightline running would be normal testing items for the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO chassis.
A Nissan Motorsport spokesman was non-committal when asked about the test: "The LMP1 program continues to run to schedule. Our official launch and all associated information will be communicated in due course but certainly not before the New Year."
Trending Topics
I liked it.
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18,015
Likes: 1,429
From: NYC
The ad was pretty good, but isn't it false advertisement, showing this car winning a race? Although if you stop frame the video, you can see that the other cars in the ad are at least ten years old. 
This car looks like the ZEOD, just beefed up. I guess this means the ZEOD is dead.
This car looks like the ZEOD, just beefed up. I guess this means the ZEOD is dead.
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18,015
Likes: 1,429
From: NYC
Nissan's radical GT-R LM NISMO has been described as both "exciting" and "brave" by its opposition in this year's World Endurance Championship.
The technical bosses of the Audi, Porsche and Toyota LMP1 programmes have all now expressed an opinion on the front-engined, front-wheel-drive Nissan.
"We were excited to see three very different concepts last season and to see a fourth even more different concept is even more exciting," Audi head of LMP1 Christopher Reinke said. "We respect them for taking such a brave approach and it would be awesome if they are up there this season."
Porsche LMP1 technical director Alex Hitzinger described the Nissan as "brave and risky."
"The concept has very big disadvantages and it is not possible from sitting at a desk looking at pictures to judge if the potential advantages will over compensate for those disadvantages," he stated.
One of those, he explained, was the decision to run narrow nine-inch tires at the rear rather than the maximum 14in. of its rivals.
"If you run a much narrower tire at the rear than at the front, you are sacrificing tire potential," he said.
Toyota Motorsport technical director Pascal Vasselon expressed a similar opinion.
"Racing is about compromises: you gain in some areas and lose in others, so we will have to see if their concept works," he said.
Vasselon warned that he wasn't writing off Nissan's chances in the 2015, though: "One thing you learn in motor racing is humility and never to underestimate the competition."
The radical concept of the GT-R LM, Nissan's first contender for outright honors at the Le Mans 24 Hours since 1999, is an attempt to exploit the aerodynamic freedoms allowed at the front of the car in the P1 rulebook.
The front location of the engine has allowed Nissan to channel air in what GT-R LM technical director Ben Bowlby calls "through ducts" along the sides of the monocoque and out the back of the car for aerodynamic gain.
The technical bosses of the Audi, Porsche and Toyota LMP1 programmes have all now expressed an opinion on the front-engined, front-wheel-drive Nissan.
"We were excited to see three very different concepts last season and to see a fourth even more different concept is even more exciting," Audi head of LMP1 Christopher Reinke said. "We respect them for taking such a brave approach and it would be awesome if they are up there this season."
Porsche LMP1 technical director Alex Hitzinger described the Nissan as "brave and risky."
"The concept has very big disadvantages and it is not possible from sitting at a desk looking at pictures to judge if the potential advantages will over compensate for those disadvantages," he stated.
One of those, he explained, was the decision to run narrow nine-inch tires at the rear rather than the maximum 14in. of its rivals.
"If you run a much narrower tire at the rear than at the front, you are sacrificing tire potential," he said.
Toyota Motorsport technical director Pascal Vasselon expressed a similar opinion.
"Racing is about compromises: you gain in some areas and lose in others, so we will have to see if their concept works," he said.
Vasselon warned that he wasn't writing off Nissan's chances in the 2015, though: "One thing you learn in motor racing is humility and never to underestimate the competition."
The radical concept of the GT-R LM, Nissan's first contender for outright honors at the Le Mans 24 Hours since 1999, is an attempt to exploit the aerodynamic freedoms allowed at the front of the car in the P1 rulebook.
The front location of the engine has allowed Nissan to channel air in what GT-R LM technical director Ben Bowlby calls "through ducts" along the sides of the monocoque and out the back of the car for aerodynamic gain.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 26,222
Likes: 8,064
From: Haudenosaunee Land
First Look: TAG Heuer Carrera NISMO Edition | The Home of TAG Heuer Collectors
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18,015
Likes: 1,429
From: NYC
'20 TLX SH-AWD A-Spec
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 346
Race starts at 13:15 EST. There are a bunch of pre-shows, some listed on that page. Also some individual teams (like Audi) have live stream from their cars for the entire 24h. Not sure of URL but I recall last year each car had its own web address! Google it.
For example, and following the topic of this thread, the Nismo people have a live youtube channel here: NISMO TV - YouTube
Have fun
PS. to avoid all the stupid popups and ads, get the google Chrome browser with the AdBlock add-on.
Last edited by Tonyware; Jun 12, 2015 at 02:07 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 30,487
Likes: 4,417
From: In an igloo
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18,015
Likes: 1,429
From: NYC
Nissan has admitted that its front-wheel-drive GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 contender raced in last weekend's Le Mans 24 Hours without its hybrid system engaged.
Darren Cox, the Japanese manufacturer's global motorsport boss, made the admission in the wake of a race in which the best Nissan lapped 18 seconds off the pace, confirming the widely held conclusion that the GT-R LM gained no benefit from hybrid power.
"No, we didn't try running it," Cox told AUTOSPORT. "For reliability reasons we didn't engage the hybrid system."
Cox explained that the decision was made after the Le Mans test two weeks before the race.
Ben Bowlby, technical director and team principal at the Nissan Motorsports squad, had suggested at the test that the fully mechanical system developed by Torotrak would operate at reduced power in the name of reliability.
The GT-R LM was conceived to run in the hybrid sub-class that allows for eight megajoules of retrieved power to be deployed over the 8.47-mile Le Mans lap. The transmission arrangement designed to send power retrieved from the front axle to the Nissan's narrow rear wheels proved unreliable on the dyno and has yet to run on the car. This forced Nissan to retrieve and deploy via the front wheels and to downgrade to the 2MJ division.
Cox stated that Nissan's simulations suggested that 8MJ of hybrid boost would be worth four seconds per lap at Le Mans.
Harry Tincknell posted the best time by a Nissan driver at 3m35.888s, which compared with Audi driver Andre Lotterer's fastest race lap of 3m17.475s.
Darren Cox, the Japanese manufacturer's global motorsport boss, made the admission in the wake of a race in which the best Nissan lapped 18 seconds off the pace, confirming the widely held conclusion that the GT-R LM gained no benefit from hybrid power.
"No, we didn't try running it," Cox told AUTOSPORT. "For reliability reasons we didn't engage the hybrid system."
Cox explained that the decision was made after the Le Mans test two weeks before the race.
Ben Bowlby, technical director and team principal at the Nissan Motorsports squad, had suggested at the test that the fully mechanical system developed by Torotrak would operate at reduced power in the name of reliability.
The GT-R LM was conceived to run in the hybrid sub-class that allows for eight megajoules of retrieved power to be deployed over the 8.47-mile Le Mans lap. The transmission arrangement designed to send power retrieved from the front axle to the Nissan's narrow rear wheels proved unreliable on the dyno and has yet to run on the car. This forced Nissan to retrieve and deploy via the front wheels and to downgrade to the 2MJ division.
Cox stated that Nissan's simulations suggested that 8MJ of hybrid boost would be worth four seconds per lap at Le Mans.
Harry Tincknell posted the best time by a Nissan driver at 3m35.888s, which compared with Audi driver Andre Lotterer's fastest race lap of 3m17.475s.
Thread Starter
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18,015
Likes: 1,429
From: NYC
Fascinating article in Racer. Worth a read on why this car was a disaster at Le Mans this year.
Le Mans/WEC - PRUETT: Nissan enters big LMP1 development phase
Le Mans/WEC - PRUETT: Nissan enters big LMP1 development phase
Senior Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 168,919
Likes: 23,738
Nissan Just Killed The GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 Project
Remember when Nissan said it was serious about getting back into motorsports? So serious, in fact, it launched its racing marketing campaign during the 2015 Super Bowl with a very expensive ad? Well, seems things didn't quite work out and now, three days before Christmas, Nissan is killing the GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 project.
A quick refresher for the class: The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO campaign was put on hold back in August after what one might call a disastrous showing at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans. The reason for the hold status? Nissan was going back to the drawing board to sort out some technical issues that supposedly hampered the race car's performance. In other words, it needed to fix the cars to make them actually work how they were supposed to.
Two of the race cars didn't even finish the race, while the one that did cross the finish line ended up in 40th place--150 laps behind its rival.
We don't know if it had anything to do with the decision to shutter the project, but those GT-R LM NISMO race cars were backwards. That is to say, they were front-wheel-drive hybrid race cars. Most race cars have rear-wheel drive because physics is a real thing. All-wheel drive works, too. Hey, that didn't stop Nissan from trying, and the company put in a good effort at that. On paper the cars read impressively, and theoretically they should've worked. But they didn't, at least not well.
Powering the GT-R LM NISMO race cars was a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that produced 550 horsepower at its peak. This was paired with a hybrid system that was supposedly able to boost total output to around 1,250 horsepower. It never did. Nissan said the system was never able to run at full capacity during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Interestingly, the next-generation Nissan GT-R supercar is supposed to be powered by a powertrain design derived from the GT-R LM NISMO's.
Racer reports the GT-R LM NISMO underwent testing at NOLA just last week. According to one staff member, it went "well, but didn't go great."
Reportedly, the decision shut down the program affects upwards of 40 people.
Bah humbug.
A quick refresher for the class: The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO campaign was put on hold back in August after what one might call a disastrous showing at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans. The reason for the hold status? Nissan was going back to the drawing board to sort out some technical issues that supposedly hampered the race car's performance. In other words, it needed to fix the cars to make them actually work how they were supposed to.
Two of the race cars didn't even finish the race, while the one that did cross the finish line ended up in 40th place--150 laps behind its rival.
We don't know if it had anything to do with the decision to shutter the project, but those GT-R LM NISMO race cars were backwards. That is to say, they were front-wheel-drive hybrid race cars. Most race cars have rear-wheel drive because physics is a real thing. All-wheel drive works, too. Hey, that didn't stop Nissan from trying, and the company put in a good effort at that. On paper the cars read impressively, and theoretically they should've worked. But they didn't, at least not well.
Powering the GT-R LM NISMO race cars was a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that produced 550 horsepower at its peak. This was paired with a hybrid system that was supposedly able to boost total output to around 1,250 horsepower. It never did. Nissan said the system was never able to run at full capacity during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Interestingly, the next-generation Nissan GT-R supercar is supposed to be powered by a powertrain design derived from the GT-R LM NISMO's.
Racer reports the GT-R LM NISMO underwent testing at NOLA just last week. According to one staff member, it went "well, but didn't go great."
Reportedly, the decision shut down the program affects upwards of 40 people.
Bah humbug.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Yumcha
Automotive News
1
Sep 25, 2015 06:14 PM
