Nissan will restart its LMP1 effort in 2016, with the GT-R LM NISMO returning following with a FIA World Endurance Championship entry.
The innovative prototype undertook just one race, the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, before Nissan decided to pull the plug on the programme following worse-than-expected results. Since then, comprehensive testing has taken place in order to identify the original car’s downfalls.
Furthermore, Michael Carcamo has been appointed as Team Principal, replacing Ben Bowlby. Carcamo has moved from Nissan Mexico and is aware of the challenge ahead: “Ben [Bowlby] had his hands full trying to do everything; managing the design and build but also the race and test operation,” explained Carcamo.
“That’s a lot to ask anyone to do, especially with a concept that requires this level of development. My knowledge of Nissan engineering processes and project planning experience will help Ben and the team concentrate on making the car deliver on it’s promise. The challenge that we took on was a monumental task.
“We have to learn all of the dynamics of this new vehicle and all the performance tuning so it takes a long time to find the sweet spot of performance. We recognise that challenge and we’ve added the resources and infrastructure behind the programme to try and bring it to that next level.”
Last week, the team took part in a two-day test at the Circuit of The Americas, with drivers Harry Tincknell and Olivier Pla trying out the newly updated car. The development seems so far to have worked: the car experienced no serious reliability issues, and went much faster around the Texas circuit than previously, despite not running with KERS.
