Front engine LMP

+1


I am very exited as well at the idea of a front-engine LMP1 .
I hope they get some success for chosing that route.

 

I wouldn't think of this as a design decision to produce a front-engined LMP1 per se. It's more the result of the open LMP1 regulations allowing exploration of all the options for packaging a hybrid powertrain.

 

If anything they'll have a better idea of the size of their car when overtaking.

 

The question becomes, how many of the players from the Panoz front engined roadsters
and the Delta Wing project are working on the Nissan?

Remembering Panoz had a fuel/hybrid car at Le Mans in the early 2000's which was interesting
but made the car heavy.

BHW

 

packaging, and what motor(s) drive which wheel(s), is going to be interesting.

 

It's two of the three main DeltaWing designers, Ben Bowlby and Zack Eakin, on this project. The third, Simon Marshall, continued with the DeltaWing project at Panoz/Elan. No one from the Panoz front-engined era is involved – those were designed by Reynard Racing Cars (when Ben was at Lola) and later by Andy Thorby.

 

See Mike Fuller's excellent Mulsanne's Corner, technical analysis of contemporary sports prototype racing cars for some well-informed speculation on this topic...

 

Hi Peter, thanks for the useful information.

BHW

 

thanks, that confirms my suspicion (gas motor to the front wheels, KERS to the rear wheels), although his speculation of the KERS in front of the gas motor with a long driveshaft to the back for weight distribution is interesting.

 

The article seems to indicate that the Nissan will be front-wheel drive most of the time, and 4-wheel drive when KERS is engaged.
That must present some interesting challenge to the drivers!

 

Just a reminder that the Nissan GT-R LM will be officially unveiled in an ad during the Super Bowl this evening...

 

Just saw it.

Quick shot of the car but a very cool ad.

 

Neat commercial with a nice teaser and backstory!!!!!!!!!!

 

awesome article by Marshall Pruett:

Nissan GT-R LM NISMO: A deep dive with Ben Bowlby

 

Just based on looks alone, and I do not mean aesthetically, this does not look like a competitive package

 

it's outside the box for sure...lots of innovative stuff, and clever rules interpretations.

we'll find out in June...

 

here's a nice photo gallery: 2015 Nissan GT-R LM NISMO - Photo Gallery

 

I don't think the car is attractive, but I really hope Nissan succeeds. I am a little biased being a Z owner and love Nismo in general. The commercial they put up was my favorite thus far.

 

Anyone with an interest in racing technology and its relevance to future road cars (not to mention Dan Gurney's legacy to the sport) should read this. That's fellow DeltaWing alum Zack Eakin to Ben's right in the second photo, by the way...

 

1200 to 2000 bhp rumours?

 

I hope other and more manufacturers will join the fray too. Peugeot, are you listening????!!

 

Le Mans/WEC - PRUETT: Inside the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 program

1250 HP

FRONT. WHEEL. DRIVE.

You gotta hand it to the guys at Nissan and AAR. They have some balls.

This is why I prefer the WEC to F1. One is a proper championship, the other just seems like a media circus.

 

This is a genuinely fascinating car. I can't wait to see it run.

Looked crazy with its clothes off too.

 

Are they just running a regular lmp1 in reverse?