If you made it on the final round of the annual Nissan GT Academy, you have been given the chance to try out the GT-R LM NISMO, which brings Nissan back to the world of LMP1 prototypes at Le Mans after their 16-year hiatus.
Just what is the GT-R LM NISMO? Back in 2014, Nissan announced that they will compete at the LMP1 hybrid class at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans with a car wearing a GT-R badge, marking the return after a 16-year hiatus since the R391 of 1999.
This car was unveiled minutes after the airing of Nissan's Big Game ad during the Super Bowl match between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots (you may remember that, right?) and if that wasn't enough, the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is the world's first front-engine/front-wheel drive LMP1 prototype.
Why is the GT-R LM NISMO FF? Over the years, all good racing cars should be either rear-wheel drive or have its engine in the middle or both but when Nissan decided that their new LMP1 car is front-engined, front-wheel drive, the motoring world shocked like a powerful quake of some sorts.
Ben Bowlby, the LMP1 Team Principal/Technical Director behind it, says that its unquestionable powertrain benefits traction and packaging. The long bonnet that accommodates its twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine generates much greater downforce as possible, making it more efficient in the corners and in the straights
Believe it or not, the idea of a front-wheel drive racing machine carried their lessons learned from a prize-winning Nissan Primera Touring Car used in the British Touring Car Championships and with this uncanny powertrain, this car focuses on fuel-efficiency, mobility, and stability, rather than power itself.
This car will be driven by top drivers Michael Krumm and Tsugio Matsuda as well as GT Academy graduated Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough, former F1 drivers Marc Gene and Max Chilton, and sports cars drivers Alex Buncombe, Harry Tincknell, and Olivier Pla. They will run two cars starting from the first round of the FIA World Endurance Championships and entering this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the sole purpose of winning the race. Best of luck.
With heavy hearts and wide eyes, mastering the GT-R LM NISMO requires precise driving skills but it feels more accessible if you get it right. This FF racer served as your final test for this year's GT Academy and for those residing in nations hosting the GT Academy will be able to advance to the national finals by placing in the top ranks of this time trial. If you're not in the mood for that, you can drive at least 1 full timed lap to take home the GT-R LM NISMO for use in-game.
You have until the deadline set in-game to complete all four rounds of the annual Nissan GT Academy so if you haven't been into it, hurry because the latter half gives you access to two unheard cars, the Zytek Z11SN Greaves Motorsport and the GT-R LM NISMO, for a limited time.
No comments:
Post a Comment