Satoshi Motoyama has completed the driver line-up of the revolutionary Nissan ZEOD RC, joining Nissan GT Academy winners Lucas Ordonez and Wolfgang Reip for the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Motoyama, who has raced at Le Mans on three previous occasions with Nissan, including 2012 in the Nissan powered DeltaWing, says he has ‘unfinished business’ with the Circuit de La Starthe, with his best finish to date being tenth in 1998.
“This is the world first with Nissan using electric power in this way at Le Mans and I am very happy to be a part of it,” four time Formula Nippon champion Motoyama said.
“For me I have a bit of unfinished business at Le Mans. The accident two years ago was very unlucky, but most racing accidents are. Just to finish the race at Le Mans is very difficult and that is our main goal. I am really looking forward to the race.
“My teammates Wolfie and Lucas have a lot of miles with the car already and it has been great to work with them this week. I am hoping I can use my experience to help with the development process.”
The Japanese ace last week tested the ZEOD RC, which has a 600 horsepower electric power train with a 400 horsepower/40 kilogram/1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine, at Paul Ricard in the South of France.
“The Nissan ZEOD RC takes things to whole new level,” Motoyama went on to say. “I am very excited and looking forward to driving the car at Le Mans.
“Le Mans is such a huge race and very popular for the Japanese people. There have been many drivers from Japan who have been successful here in the past and I would like to be one of them – I will be working very hard with the team to do my best.”
Both Motoyama and Ordonez will miss the Test Day for Le Mans due to a clashing Super GT round, with Tommy Erdos due to fill in alongside Reip.
