Nissan to Return to World Endurance Championship in 2015

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan will return to the pinnacle of sportscar racing in 2015 after revealing they will enter a factory LMP1 team in the World Endurance Championship next year.

The Japanese manufacturer will take on works teams from Audi, Toyota and Porsche in the series which includes the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hour race.

“We applaud the ACO and FIA for the work they have done to get the rules right,” said Nissan’s Chief Planning Office & Executive Vice-President Andy 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’s last attempt for outright victory at Le Mans came 15 years ago and the car they hope can deliver immediate success next year will be known as the GT-R LM NISMO.

“We have chosen to take the GT-R name to Le Mans as the GT-R symbolizes the ultimate in Nissan’s performance,” NISMO President Shoichi Miyatani said.

“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.”