Nissan has announced that the GT-R LM Nismo will return to the World Endurance Championship after the Japanese marque recently pulled it from the 2015 competition following its poor showing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Nissan is currently in the midst of a new test and development programme for the car. During recent tests at the Circuit of the Americas, it reportedly lapped the circuit significantly faster without encountering any reliability problems with Olivier Pla and Harry Tincknell behind the wheel.
Additionally, Michael Carcamo has been appointed as team principal taking over from Ben Bowlby. Discussing his role with the car, Carcamo said “Ben had his hands full trying to do everything; managing the design and build but also the race and test operation. That’s a lot to ask anyone to do, especially with a concept that requires this level of development. My knowledge of Nissan engineering processes and project planning experience will help Ben and the team concentrate on making the car deliver on its promise.”
The car itself is unique for three main reasons; its front-engined layout, its use of front-wheel drive and its advanced ‘flow-through’ aerodynamics system. While on paper, these elements seemed promising, the car dramatically underperformed at the world’s most famous endurance race.
