Nissan 2015

[Bonio]

Over on Mulsanne Mike's there is a lot of speculation regarding the LMP1 entry from Nissan. The general consensus is that it will be front engined with no rear wing and thoughts like the Delta Wing but running backwards... All sounds a little confusing and whilst I will certainly welcome something that could resemble the Panoz LMP1 effort, I'm not to sure about the concept that seems to be championed at the moment. Anyone else been hearing anything on the grapevine?
 

[Barry]

Sounds interesting, always good to see people looking at the regs with new eyes.

[lofty]

Hello Pat. A bloke came up to me cause i was wearing me Panoz t-shirt the other night in a pub. He loved the cars but had never been to LM bit strange i thought. Do you know him?
Laters

[Werner]

Well, as everyone else with some interest in the LMP1 category I'm waiting what Nissan will present hopefully soon. However, in the last 3 years they have earned a reputation of using Le Mans just as a marketing tool: Getting maximum media attention and publicity with a minimum of investment (engine supplier for the Deltawing).  Coming up with some front engine stuff will for sure give them a lot of attention again.

Let's hope they take it serious and come to Le Mans for the competition also.

[Kristof]

Looking at the first sketches I already saw going round on the internet, it definitely looks butt-ugly !
Guess we'll have to wait untill the Superbowl to see the first real glimpse of the car ...

[Bonio]

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/exclusive-see-and-hear-nissans-front-engine-gt-r-le-ma-1680363700

Pics just released. It does have a rear wing though, which goes against what Mike Fuller speculated on. Though he still reckons  it maybe in COTA configuration and the wing will be dropped for the 24 Hrs. The front wheels are also notably larger than the fronts. Odd looking I think.

[Barry]

I sure it will look a lot better when it's got it's livery on.
One of the great things about endurance racing is variety, haven't had much of that recently in looks, just variation in power solutions.
IMHO Nissan should be applauded for trying something different, look forward to seeing it in action.

[Lorry]

It does look like its missing Batman and the boy w*n&er  , and the engine sounds good but a bit F1.

The Panoz was quite quick for a small outfit, so I wouldn't expect the Micra GTR to be far off the pace.  Putting the engine at the front didn't seem to be much of a handicap, and Panoz did win in the ALMS.

[Kristof]

First impression after looking at the pictures : *yuk*  .  Looks a lot like the Panoz Esperante GTR-1, but stretched out.
Guess we'll have to wait to see in the flesh or with a decent livery on it ... probably at Februari 1st during the Superbowl.

[jimclark]

Yuuccchh indeed. Over my 50 odd years of following racing, I've seen some ugly iterations. This one is right down there with them.

Worse yet, it just doesn't look "right". I didn't like the "look" of the first Indy Turbine (Granatelli's) but at least it did look "right" and go it did. 'Didn't like the looks of the Panoz LMP but again, not liking the appearnace is different than "looking' right, and it worked fairly well. What I've seen of this thing, seperating emotion from instinct; this thing just "don't look right".... I'd like to think, and I hope, I'm wrong.

[Kristof]

Tonight 1 am UK time will be the ad during the Superbowl.
Special show on radiolemans.com also (posted by Hindy on fb)

[Boorish Grobian]

Ouch! Super Bowl at 1AM.  We have people sh*t-faced enough with it being a 1830 kickoff.  For our colleagues abroad, this is pretty much a national holiday here in the US, the country basically shuts down for the day and throws one giant tailgate party.  Lots of hangovers, and sick days used tomorrow.
We live in Cincinnati, and my wife is from Detroit, so we're a Bengals-Lions family, but my cousin Dan is an attorney in Seattle, so we're Seahawks fans by default. Go Hawks!
Fax
(Oh yeah, that Nissan is butt-fricking ugly...)

[Barry]

Go Hawks, I know you beat the Packers, BOO!, but I don't want the Patriots to win.

Cars can be ugly, some butt ugly, some cute ugly, I always likes the Panoz's, not the prettiest cars in the world, but they had character. Let's wait till they roll the car out in livery before we make judgement.

And let's see if it works!!!!!!!

[Kristof]

Here it is
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/02/02/nissan-reveals-le-mans-challenger-during-super-bowl.html

It looks ... err ... different  
Marc Gene confirmed as first driver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gx_E23VpQQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd1qCi5nSKw

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/entertainment/a24901/the-inside-story-of-the-2015-nissan-gt-r-super-bowl-commercial/

All videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3rBtzrgIEg&feature=youtu.be&list=PLtElEI41NT-lTTUIMfn2eBsykwNNgO4Nq

[Lazy B'stard]

Wierd looking thing in it. Very slab sided too- reminds me of the Aston AMR disaster a few years back. Must be some clever aero going on under the bodywork, just look at those narrow rear tyres and the lack of any photos of the rear end. The only rearward shot is an artists impression. What do they have up their sleeve?