The future of Nissan’s GT-R Nismo LMP1 program is questioned after a mediocre debut at Le Mans.
Well, “mediocre” is a kind word, which doesn’t truly describes the model’s poor performance. Just so you know, two out of the three cars retired during the race, while the other one finished last. No, not last in its class; last overall, in the 40th position. But that doesn’t matter anyway, because it wasn’t registered as classified due to spending more than one-third of the race in the garage.
After this ordeal, according to Sportscar365, a high-level executive meeting will be held to decide whether or not the two-year planned program will continue. Mind you, this doesn’t mean that Nissan will retire form endurance racing, but it certainly will conclude if the Japanese car manufacturer will continue to develop and invest time and money in its front-engine, front-wheel-drive racers, or it will turn its attention to something more…normal.
Now, to be honest, Nissan is for motor-racing like Citroen was for production cars. The Japanese car manufacturer has come up with uniquely-strange ideas lately and tried to revolutionize motorsport with a rather unconventional approach. Granted, LMP1 racing – like many other motor-racing disciplines – has evolved over the years in what it is today. That said, it’s hard for someone to try and change its core element “overnight” with a new approach and expect it to work.
Moreover, you can’t just give up after the first trial and error. Audi didn’t win in its first year at Le Mans, nor did Porsche. Granted, they didn’t get outpaced by lesser cars, but still.
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