24h Le Mans
Have you always dreamed of owning a car that competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans? Does it seem impossible? Perhaps not...Modern day or vintage cars are both for sale, at auction or otherwise. Short summer summary...
Photo : Christian VIGNON
Nissan occupied Garage 56 reserved for innovative projects at the last 24 Hours of Le Mans and will return to La Sarthe in the head class in 2015, as in 1988 at the time of Group C. It was in 1983 that Nissan began to interest itself with Group C by furnishing an engine to a private team in national races, before ordering a chassis from the constructor March in which was to be installed a house V6. Unfortunately in 1986 in La Sarthe, the results did not meet expectations.
New V8 engine and new March chassis in 1987: the R87E was born. With Le Mans as singular objective, Nissan did not compete in any world championship round and relegated itself to entering the car in the 500km of Fuji to prepare for the 24 Hours. The experience was cut short when the engine broke down. The same misfortune awaited the Japanese manufacturer at Le Mans, neither of the two cars officially entered crossed the finish line.
The engine clearly the issue, the engineers went back to the drawing board once again to bring about a V8 called VRH30. The partnership with March not up to par, Nissan modified two old chassis so it could house its new V8, the finished product christened R88C.
Having learned its lesson, Nissan entered two cars in several races before sending them to Le Mans, but the performances were not stellar. Even worse, at Le Mans, only one of the two cars would pass under the checkered flag in... 14th position. The No. 23, Nissan's lucky number, and its 100% Japanese driver line-up were forced to retire. Nonetheless, Nissan decided to work on its aerodynamics using a wind tunnel, and the R88C, currently for sale, cut a fine figure. The engine, once again, was to be its Achilles heel...
The R88C for sale on the website Oakfields is one of four cars that Nissan produced. No going price estimation is available.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
PHOTO : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, JUNE 11 & 12 1988. The No. 23 official Nissan is for sale.
