Nissan LMP1 Discussion

[Acid09]

There's all kinds of rumors now and several sources are suggesting that the Nissan's night test (the one that apparently was used to produce all the PR footage we've seen) saw the car lapping at 911 GT3 cup car speeds!

If that's anywhere near true then Nissan has their work cut out for them, postponing the car until the test only gives them another 8-9 weeks..not a lot to fix such fundamental issues.

[Pandemonium]

Exactly, them saying their main objetctive is Le Mans is just a shield. They wish they could win one single round of the WEC. They can´t. We haven´t even seeen the car turning with some speed. Like TF110 said Wec races are incresingly a lot in popularity. We should still have two amazing rounds and a prologue but this is so disappointing. Why could they not go the normal way. They have to be so special yet they are nothing special. They are not even average.

[CTD]

I'm gonna keep it short this time.

Have faith, it is a new program with a radical solution. It takes time, so I won't judge them until 2016. Even though it is sad that they are gone from the first two rounds of WEC, and probably will spend as many hours in the garage as on the track at Le Mans.

[supermario21]

Toyota also didn't set the 2012 bar high, yet they gave Audi everything they could handle for 6 hours. Heck reliability didn't even knock the cars out, as the 8 had that freak accident with the Ferrari and the 7 ran into the stupid DW which started a cascade of problems...

Nissan was talking about winning this year lol...

[TF110]

I hope they succeed, but Im not surprised. Neither do I feel bad for them with all their boasting and bragging. The drivers are a different story.

[GT6]

This is very disappointing news, i was looking forward to seeing it in a few weeks but i think the news was un unexpected in some quarters, but it will take some of the shine off the first two races with both nissan and rebellion missing

[miatanut]

Originally Posted by Acid09

There's all kinds of rumors now and several sources are suggesting that the Nissan's night test (the one that apparently was used to produce all the PR footage we've seen) saw the car lapping at 911 GT3 cup car speeds!

If that's anywhere near true then Nissan has their work cut out for them, postponing the car until the test only gives them another 8-9 weeks..not a lot to fix such fundamental issues.

To film the commercial, they needed to have a camera car. If the car is going full race pace, few camera cars could stay with it. Presumably the Daytona prototypes were there to serve as camera cars. Loaded up with a camera, they weren't going to do their normal pace either.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by TF110

The drivers are a different story.

Agreed. I can't say I'm particularly sorry for Mr. Cox but for the likes of Krumm & Pla this really does suck.

They've been waiting a long time for this opportunity, only to find out that it may not be that much of an opportunity to begin with.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by TF110

The drivers are a different story.

Certain decisions may look a bit rash in hindsight.

Yes I am thinking primarily of Tincknell, because you would assume his manager wouldn't have OK'ed the switch if he had reservations about the GT-R LMP1.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by miatanut

To film the commercial, they needed to have a camera car. If the car is going full race pace, few camera cars could stay with it. Presumably the Daytona prototypes were there to serve as camera cars. Loaded up with a camera, they weren't going to do their normal pace either.

Exactly my thinking...how anyone can think that commercial filming has anything to do with the car's actual speed is kind of funny.

[GT6]

Well we are all disappointed but compare that to all the people involved in the team they must be feeling gutted

[chernaudi]

Yep, it seemed like Harry was being groomed for a position at Audi in part due to his connection with McNish (Allan is still technically working for Audi), but if he wanted a challenge, Harry's getting one by being with Nissan, for all the wrong reasons.

[maximus]

Bit of a shame it'll miss Silverstone and Spa, I really wanted to see it. I'll still enjoy the race at Silverstone however.

[hondafan37]

Cox said:
"We’ll Refocus and Carry on Testing in the U.S.
we will be testing at the GM-owned NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Ky., which was built with a number of characteristics similar to the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe.
The fact that we can run at Bowling Green, obviously Corvette has a lot of experience there and they haven’t done a bad job at Le Mans! It’s only three hours away from our facility,”

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/c...ng-in-the-u-s/

[miatanut]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Exactly my thinking...how anyone can think that commercial filming has anything to do with the car's actual speed is kind of funny.

I was also thinking if they had trouble getting the engine (by Cosworth) started, that could have something to do with running it super rich to get the yellow flames for the commercial. The little bit of flame on other in-car night videos has been blue, as one would expect.

[Starfish Primer]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well we are all disappointed but compare that to all the people involved in the team they must be feeling gutted

Agree, and also they choose the hard way so big problems are expected on the first year. The fiasco would be giving up, not having delays in the first stages.

[kipper]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Yep, it seemed like Harry was being groomed for a position at Audi in part due to his connection with McNish (Allan is still technically working for Audi), but if he wanted a challenge, Harry's getting one by being with Nissan, for all the wrong reasons.

I do wonder if the move to Nissan has anything to do with the potential lack of opportunities at Audi in the near future. Of their nine drivers, Fassler and Treluyer are the oldest (at 38). As a consequence, none of the drivers are likely to be retiring any time soon. As such the only vacancies will arise from drivers falling out of favour, which can't be relied up. As such a factory LMP1 drive with Nissan is probably a good option.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Exactly my thinking...how anyone can think that commercial filming has anything to do with the car's actual speed is kind of funny.

Come on, people aren't talking about the actual filming laps but their speed during that test. They will have done more than just the few filming laps.

The car has been very much of the pace in Sebring as well, reportedly 14 seconds slower than Audi..that puts them in GT-class category. So I don't see why the 911 GT3 Cup car figure from the first test is supposedly unbelievable.

[ss_collins]

Why has the car only just gone through a crash test?

Normal. The Red Bull RB11 only crash tested 4 days ahead of its test debut this year.

[gustavobamba]

I just hope they go to Le Mans… at this point IF they cannot go to Le Mans i think MR. Ben bowlby and Mr. Darren Cox might have to find a new job.

Sincerely i fell sorry for this to happen… nothing more to said right now

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Come on, people aren't talking about the actual filming laps but their speed during that test. They will have done more than just the few filming laps.

The car has been very much of the pace in Sebring as well, reportedly 14 seconds slower than Audi..that puts them in GT-class category. So I don't see why the 911 GT3 Cup car figure from the first test is supposedly unbelievable.

What source said 14 seconds? I could see 4 seconds with a glimmer of hope for the team, but 14 is attrocious. Imo, they're going to need a serious rethink in some areas. I wouldn't put it past them running different size tires in the rear.

[miatanut]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Come on, people aren't talking about the actual filming laps but their speed during that test. They will have done more than just the few filming laps.

The car has been very much of the pace in Sebring as well, reportedly 14 seconds slower than Audi..that puts them in GT-class category. So I don't see why the 911 GT3 Cup car figure from the first test is supposedly unbelievable.

We don't know if they did ANY speed laps at night. At Sebring, we don't know if they ever got past the shake-down laps. It certainly didn't seem that way.

Probably the reason they are going to a private track for testing is so they can work through their program in peace.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by miatanut

We don't know if they did ANY speed laps at night. At Sebring, we don't know if they ever got past the shake-down laps. It certainly didn't seem that way.

Probably the reason they are going to a private track for testing is so they can work through their program in peace.

They did do night laps, there was more run than many are saying, possibly know. The car has(had?)a structural issue that needs to be fixed. Best guess, they are rebuilding tubs after a re-design to strengthen certain areas..which is why they need more time before running in competitive fashion.

Nobody blasted Audi for having tub issues last year..some people need to get over it. This a whole new car, a whole new design...it's going to have issues, some bigger than others. Lots, and lots of unconventional things going on here.

[Steptoe]

Huge shame but a massive mountain to climb and no shock that they are having issues to get the car up to speed and with crash test / tub issues they can't mess around.
I'm just surprised they don't use Spa as a live test session prior to LM if that is the major goal.
I hope I'm wrong but its all looking a bit AMR One..........

[carbsmith]

Originally Posted by DeezPutz

Maybe two but not three. Do they even have two fully built and running cars now? This is such a cool car, but it does appear they may have gotten a bit ahead of themselves.

They don't have one.

I don't tend to think having a bunch of supplier issues says anything positive for the competency of the program. The way they structured it with where the cars are being designed, where they're being built, where they're being run out of, and then where they're actually being raced seemed like enough trouble for an LMP2. (remember people are calling Haas a moron just for wanting to have an American F1 team at all)

They can't make it to Spa? Well it sure doesn't help when your cars are being built 5600 miles away at a location 1700 miles from your race shop. Meanwhile for Toyota Motorsport it's a 134km cruise down the road, they could go home every night.