Skip advert
Advertisement

Nissan scraps Le Mans and WEC race programme

The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is no more, as the brand pulls it out of endurance racing

nissan gt-r lm nismo pre season testing

Nissan has pulled the plug on its troubled front-wheel-drive Le Mans racer, the GT-R LM NISMO.

In a statement released today, the Japanese brand said: “Today, Nissan announced that it will withdraw its LMP1 entry from the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship. Nissan entered LMP1 in the 2015 season with an innovative new, and bold concept, with the ambition to compete at the front of the field. The teams worked diligently to bring the vehicles up to the desired performance levels. However, the company concluded that the program would not be able to reach its ambitions and decided to focus on developing its longer-term racing strategies.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Fastest Nurburgring lap times

“Racing is a core part of the Nissan DNA, and the company has a proud history of innovating to win. Nissan’s commitment to motorsport remains strong, as evidenced by its victorious track record in the 2015 season – from achieving the overall winner of Super GT two years in a row in Japan, to winning the Blancpain Endurance Pro Class and the Bathurst 12-hour race with the GT-R GT3. Nissan will continue its support of the WEC through its various engine programs, including the recent introduction of the LMP3 engine.”

The GT-R LM raced only once, at Le Mans this year, where two of three entered examples retired and the third finished too far behind the leaders to be classified. The car’s hybrid system was plagued by issues and it raced at Le Mans with conventional petrol power only.

The architect of the project, Darren Cox, left Nissan earlier in the year, but a new team had been appointed to try to make the car more competitive, with the aim of contesting the full 2016 WEC season. The car ran several tests at US circuits since its Le Mans appearance.

Nissan’s other motorsport programmes, primarily in GT3 racing, are expected to continue, although the LMP1 decision affects several drivers who were anticipated to race the GT-R LM NISMO in 2016, including Brits Harry Tincknell and Jann Mardenborough – the latter a graduate of Nissan’s GT Academy ‘gamer to racer’ competition.

What do you think about Nissan stopping its Le Mans programme? Let us know below...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
New cars coming soon header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
23 Jun 2025
Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028
Nissan Leaf - front cornering

Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028

The industry is in a race to bring solid-state to the market, and Nissan isn’t too far behind the leaders
News
17 Jun 2025
What is Nismo? Past, present and future Nissan’s performance car brand
Nissan Nismo cars - Tom Jervis with 3 generations of Nismo

What is Nismo? Past, present and future Nissan’s performance car brand

We take a deep dive into the history and future of Nissan’s high-performance tuning division, famous for the likes of the 370Z and GT-R sports cars
Features
9 Jun 2025
Nissan could ditch pure-petrol power in the UK to avoid big ZEV fines
Nissan Juke - left cornering

Nissan could ditch pure-petrol power in the UK to avoid big ZEV fines

New boss suggests it makes sense to kill higher-CO2 petrol engines in favour of hybrids and EVs
News
21 May 2025

Most Popular

Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports
MST Ford Escort - front 3/4

Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports

While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look
News
7 Jul 2025
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Hot Volkswagen Golf GTI for a cool £287 a month
Volkswagen Golf GTI - front cornering left 1

Car Deal of the Day: Hot Volkswagen Golf GTI for a cool £287 a month

The Golf GTI has been a classic from day one – and it’s our Deal of the Day for 8 July.
News
8 Jul 2025