(Images courtesy of NISSAN/newspressUSA)
Nissan revealed a glimpse of its Le Mans challenger – the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO – in a commercial during Super Bowl XLIX. The front-engined, front-wheel-drive machine designed by Ben Bowlby is powered by a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine and a kinetic energy recovery system. The new car will contest the LM P1 class in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. "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," said Shoichi Miyatani, president of NISMO. "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." The intensive test program for the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO began in Arizona last year and will continue in the U.S., with Nissan's full LM P1 driver line-up to be revealed soon. Nissan also announced three multi-year partnerships with TAG Heuer, Motul and Michelin. The French manufacturer has built special tires for the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO and has been an integral part of the car's extensive development program.
