Nissan's front-mid engined, front wheel drive based wingless GT-R Le Mans

[SVT666]

Despite running at the back of the pack, Nissan says it isn't disappointed by the results of its first test day with its radical new GT-R LM Nismo race car.

In preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans set to run later this month, Nissan began a series of test runs of its front-wheel drive GT-R LM Nismo over the weekend. The results were less than stellar, with the GT-R LM Nismo posting lap times that were more than 20 seconds off the pace of the fastest LMP1 car. In fact, the GT-R LM Nismo was more than two seconds slower than the fastest car a rung down in the LMP2 category. Most of Nissan's laps were, however, run under rainy conditions.

Darren Cox, head of Nissan's motorsports operations, wasn't discouraged by the slower lap times.

"There are a lot of positives to take from the test," Cox told Autosport. "We have three cars sitting in the garage right now with nothing wrong with them. We only had one problem that stopped us out on track and we covered a total of 1500km across the three cars."

He added: "We were fastest in the speed trap and at the end Jann [Mardenborough] was one of the fastest cars on intermediates."

Nissan's GT-R LM Nismo is a departure from the norm at Le Mans, with the car utilizing a unique front-wheel drive setup. Nissan says the FWD layout allows for better aerodynamics, but, at least, so far the design doesn't appear to be bearing fruit. Nissan has a few weeks to make adjustment before the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicks off on June 13.

[r0tor]

General consensus is its done for marketing and because they didn't have a big enough budget to go head to head with Audi - so they engineered themselves an excuse.

The car is an undeveloped train wreck

Qualified 20 sec off the time of the new Porsche... Couldn't even beat a privateer team running customer cars.

[Galaxy]

Apparently there AWD does not work, so they are running FWD only.

[r0tor]

Apparently there AWD does not work, so they are running FWD only.

That was the revelation a many months ago... Bailed on AWD after tbey couldnt get it working and then went on a propaganda campaign bragging about the benefits of FWD.

[SVT666]

Apparently there AWD does not work, so they are running FWD only.

What?  How can the makers of the GT-R not get AWD to work?

[r0tor]

They were trying to do some electric drive to the rear wheels working off of batteries charged by regen breaking and other sorts... Didn't work

They then gave up and started campaigning that FWD would allow them to exploit aero advantages and other crap to avoid saying "we wasted our money"

[SVT666]

They were trying to do some electric drive to the rear wheels working off of batteries charged by regen breaking and other sorts... Didn't work

They then gave up and started campaigning that FWD would allow them to exploit aero advantages and other crap to avoid saying "we wasted our money"

Yeah, I couldn't figure out how FWD was better for aero.

[Rich]

The Porsches are fast, and only 1 manufacturer Corvette is left.

Today/tomorrow will be interesting

[r0tor]

Can't even watch it... WTF

[Rich]

I downloaded the app.. Watching it for 9$. I wish more racing series did the same

[2o6]

Yeah, I couldn't figure out how FWD was better for aero.

It's easier to put more downforce on the front end, since they put the engine up front. Since the weight is up front, remove the wing and optimize the shape since there's no MR layout.





I wonder what this thing would have been like if KERS was working, failure or not, it was a pretty rad concept.

[Galaxy]

Still 4 cars within one lap.

[MX793]

It's easier to put more downforce on the front end, since they put the engine up front. Since the weight is up front, remove the wing and optimize the shape since there's no MR layout.





I wonder what this thing would have been like if KERS was working, failure or not, it was a pretty rad concept.

Downforce does more than provide traction for the drive wheels.  It provides increased lateral grip for better corner speeds.  You still want downforce on the rear of the car even if it's FWD.

[2o6]

Downforce does more than provide traction for the drive wheels.  It provides increased lateral grip for better corner speeds.  You still want downforce on the rear of the car even if it's FWD.

Yeah, but nissan's reasoning was since a lot of the weight was up front, they could optimize that? Idk it seems really novel.

[SVT666]

Yeah, but nissan's reasoning was since a lot of the weight was up front, they could optimize that? Idk it seems really novel.

So novel it doesn't work.

[2o6]

So novel it doesn't work.

It's a new concept and they've had a lot of problems with it? They seem to be very optimistic and really excited even if it is very slow. I think that dedication to innovation is really nifty



I don't know, I'm not an engineer.

[SVT666]

They're excitement is obviously fake. Nobody is excited about getting absolutely destroyed in the biggest race in the world.

[MX793]

Yeah, but nissan's reasoning was since a lot of the weight was up front, they could optimize that? Idk it seems really novel.

These cars generate enough downforce to be able to drive upside down at 100+ mph.  The extra ~200 lbs associated with moving the drivetrain forward is in the noise.

[r0tor]

Congrats to Porsche!

Although it's pretty mind boggling how much money VAG left Porsche spend to defeat an already spendy and dominate Audi program.  However, this might be the current race series that transfers tech down to the street the best.

[GoCougs]

It's a new concept and they've had a lot of problems with it? They seem to be very optimistic and really excited even if it is very slow. I think that dedication to innovation is really nifty



I don't know, I'm not an engineer.

Those that think that Nissan did this experiment to "win" Le Mans, or who are otherwise poking fun at it, don't understand what is going on.

[2o6]

Those that think that Nissan did this experiment to "win" Le Mans, or who are otherwise poking fun at it, don't understand what is going on.

Yeah, this clearly was a proof-of-concept, super high-tech, engineering mule.

[r0tor]

It was an lowly funded program that never had a chance which was designed for publicity.

[cawimmer430]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw_2N3tGMEg