Nissan powers sports car ladder - From LM P3 to LM P1

AUSTIN, TX, USA – Thursday 18 September 2014: Today’s announcement that Nissan engines will power the new LM P3 endurance racing category slots into place the final rung of the manufacturer’s sports car ladder of success. Nissan’s commitment to sports car racing is clear: a new LM P1 programme, unrivalled success with it’s LM P2 engine and today’s LM P3 news demonstrates how Nissan is leading the way by providing a clear path through the ranks of endurance racing.

It is now possible for the winners of Nissan PlayStation GT Academy to go all the way with Nissan. After honing their craft in Nissan GT4 and GT3 cars, the winners can start to learn about sports car racing in LM P3 before moving up to LM P2, which will give them their first taste of the Le Mans 24 Hours, and then, if they make the grade, they can compete at the highest level of global sports car racing in Nissan’s LM P1 challenger: the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO.

The LM P3 category has been created by the ACO to provide cost-effective, low-maintenance prototype racing cars for constructors, teams and drivers starting out in endurance racing. Eligible to compete in the European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series in 2015, the new closed-cockpit cars will be built by a number of manufacturers but each one of them will be powered by Nissan.

Speaking at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, USA, NISMO’s Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, Darren Cox said: “We welcome this new series and congratulate the ACO on providing a cost-capped entry level category where young drivers and gentlemen drivers can hone their prototype racing skills. It goes without saying that we are committed to all levels of motorsport and take pleasure in watching our drivers rise through the ranks. With our involvement in LM P3 we have now closed the loop and can take our drivers all the way through to LM P1 with Nissan.”

The LM P3 powerplant is a NISMO-tuned Nissan VK50VE 5-litre normally-aspirated V8 engine.

Nissan has powered to the top of the LM P2 category in the past few years, most recently taking the top five places in class at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours, the pinnacle of endurance racing. With a strong presence in LM P3, LM P2 and LM P1 Nissan is ready for another fantastic season of sports car racing in 2015.


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