This Sunday, 31 May, the three GT-R LM NISMOs will undeniably be among the cars attracting the greatest interest – and the most photographers’ lenses too, no doubt – at the Test Day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2015. But it should not be overlooked that Nissan is also a major player in the LM P2 division, the largest class on the starting grid with nineteen cars, fourteen of which are powered by a Nissan engine. With the addition of the three GT-R LM NISMOs making a total of seventeen prototypes – almost a third of the entire grid – Nissan is the most widely represented engine supplier at Le Mans in 2015.

Although it is clearly too early to measure the full potential of the GT-R LM NISMO, Nissan will be right at the heart of the tremendous battle developing in LM P2 between Ligier, Alpine, Oreca, Gibson and Strakka Dome. Having chalked up two class victories in the first two rounds of this season’s FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series (ELMS), Nissan, already a three-times winner at Le Mans in 2011 (with Greaves Motorsport), 2013 (with OAK Racing) and 2014 (with Jota Sport), is red-hot favourite to retain its title. It would however take a shrewd punter to predict which of G-Drive Racing, OAK Racing, Greaves Motorsport, Strakka Racing, Jota Sport, KCMG, Thiriet by TDS Racing, Murphy Prototypes, Pegasus Racing or Signatech Alpine will take be taking the chequered flag in the LM P2 class at 3pm on Sunday 14 June!

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translated from French by David Goward
Photo: Sébastien Bassani - ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 14 JUNE 2014, THE RACE. Nissan powered its long-term partner, the British Jota Sport team, to LM P2 victory at last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.