Nissan LMP1 Discussion

Gingers4Justice · 10 Jan 2014, 14:22 (Ref:3352427)

As MyNameIsNigel suggested, this is news which really deserves its own thread.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112085

Quote:

Nissan is fully committed to entering the LMP1 class at the start of the 2015 World Endurance Championship, the Japanese manufacturer has revealed.

It had previously stated that it was working on concepts for an LMP1 programme, which is a condition of its 2014 'Garage 56' Le Mans 24 Hours entry with the ZEOD RC experimental racer, and that funding had yet to be signed off.

Now it has revealed that key decisions about the project are being made and that Nissan's first outright challenger for Le Mans honours since 1999 is on course to be on the grid for the opening round of the WEC in 2015.

Nissan global motorsport director Darren Cox told AUTOSPORT: "Any motorsport programme is dependent on the decisions of a company's board of directors, but we are pushing ahead as though it is all happening.

"We are making decisions, entering discussions with suppliers and on target to be at Silverstone [the opening round of the WEC this year and last] in April 2015."

Cox would not discuss details of Nissan's plans, although he did admit that the hybrid powerplant's internal combustion element would be petrol-powered.

"We are not doing this in a conventional way: it will be a global project, so NISMO [Nissan's motorsport arm in Japan] and Ben [Bowlby, designer of the ZEOD], will be involved," he explained.

The next wave of announcements concerning the ZEOD, including confirmation of the configuration of its internal combustion engine, are due at the end of this month.

Looks like we could find out officially about the Nissan's powerplant before we find out about Porsche's!

MyNameIsNigel · 10 Jan 2014, 14:26 (Ref:3352430)

Thanks for opening this new thread.

Let's now hope the company's board of directors will stick to this plan.

Bandicoot17 · 10 Jan 2014, 14:26 (Ref:3352431)

Does that not refer to the ZEOD's powerplant??

This is great news though, although the part about the board of directors worries me slightly, as to me it sounds as if the program isn't signed off yet.

Simmi · 10 Jan 2014, 14:37 (Ref:3352434)

It's interesting because, again, this isn't a nailed on confirmation.

Everything looks to be going in the right direction - but Cox seems to imply it hasn't been agreed at board level?

Hopefully they'll be in a position to announce something officially soon as a company.

Gingers4Justice · 10 Jan 2014, 14:54 (Ref:3352441)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

It's interesting because, again, this isn't a nailed on confirmation.

Everything looks to be going in the right direction - but Cox seems to imply it hasn't been agreed at board level?

Hopefully they'll be in a position to announce something officially soon as a company.

Yeah, I thought that was a bit weird really. I've interpreted it as Cox having the verbal go-ahead, if not the official financial one.

This would be very odd things to be coming out with if not.

Maelochs · 10 Jan 2014, 14:59 (Ref:3352442)

Internal company politics---different divisions with different VPs having different views and visions of and for the company. One faction tries to force the hand of another by presenting a fait accompli--"We have already invested X time and money, we would be better off following through and gaining the benefits than cutting our losses."

Peat · 10 Jan 2014, 15:14 (Ref:3352446)

I call BS.

"It had previously stated that it was working on concepts for an LMP1 programme, which is a condition of its 2014 'Garage 56' Le Mans 24 Hours entry"

With that statement in mind, how can they say anything other than 'Yes, we are working on P1 for 2015...."

My guess is that they will show up with the ZEOD this year, have lacklustre performance - proclaim it as a great success and 'the future' and disappear again.

Please prove me wrong Nissan. PLEASE.

JoestForEver · 10 Jan 2014, 16:23 (Ref:3352478)

Quote:

Any motorsport programme is dependent on the decisions of a company's board of directors, but we are pushing ahead as though it is all happening.

mmm........sounds quite like a department head asking for budget from the board of directors by pushing his stuff to do something in advance. Not really a solid confirmation.

Mike E · 10 Jan 2014, 16:45 (Ref:3352487)

Well, I haven't got a clue, but considering the lead time required to mount a credible campaign, getting the ball rolling with verbal authorisation while the board dots the i's and crosses the t's must be a good idea. You can do lots of planning without spending huge amounts of money.

Come on Nissan! Japan vs Germany!

isynge · 10 Jan 2014, 17:15 (Ref:3352497)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Yeah, I thought that was a bit weird really. I've interpreted it as Cox having the verbal go-ahead, if not the official financial one.

This would be very odd things to be coming out with if not.

I suspect Nissan's 2015 budget will only be officially signed off much later in 2014, much like every other large company. Thus, Cox probably has the budget to do Garage 56, the LMP2 engine, Race Academy, and design/prep work for an LMP1, but no authority to commit to actually racing anything in 2015.

deltawing · 10 Jan 2014, 18:05 (Ref:3352517)

Quote:

Originally Posted by isynge

I suspect Nissan's 2015 budget will only be officially signed off much later in 2014, much like every other large company. Thus, Cox probably has the budget to do Garage 56, the LMP2 engine, Race Academy, and design/prep work for an LMP1, but no authority to commit to actually racing anything in 2015.

Bingo!

deggis · 10 Jan 2014, 19:32 (Ref:3352552)

Committed but not really committed = yet another contradictory, nonsensical statement.

Read that before coming here, but the thread title is still misleading if new thread was needed in the first place.

deltawing · 10 Jan 2014, 19:36 (Ref:3352556)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deggis

Committed but not really committed = yet another contradictory, nonsensical statement.

Read that before coming here, but the thread title is still misleading and not sure if a new thread is was even required.

Hey, what happened to you? I was missing you these last few days, you disappeared and I was wondering what would deggis say, now that finally the collective has decided there is going to be an LMP1.

deggis · 10 Jan 2014, 20:16 (Ref:3352571)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltawing

Hey, what happened to you? I was missing you these last few days, you disappeared and I was wondering what would deggis say, now that finally the collective has decided there is going to be an LMP1.

Apparently all it took was a major journo to write a wishful headline which is not that connected to what Cox actually said. Pretty disappointed at the "collective".

deltawing · 10 Jan 2014, 20:26 (Ref:3352573)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deggis

Apparently all it took was a major journo to write a wishful headline which is not that connected to what Cox actually said. Pretty disappointed at the "collective".

Oh man, I am trying so hard to help you quite while you are ahead, but you just want to hit that wall at full speed, like it is fun!