SAKHIR, Bahrain – Nissan’s amazing winning run in international LM P2 prototype competition has come to an end with G-Drive Racing earning the honor of scoring the final FIA World Endurance Championship victory with NISMO power.
After scoring five race wins in 2011 in the FIA WEC’s predecessor, the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Nissan debuted in the WEC when the championship launched in 2012.
In the first year, Nissan’s 4.5-liter VK45DEV8 engine won five of the eight races. But since 2013, Nissan has been unbeaten while recording a remarkable 35 consecutive FIA WEC victories in a row.
In that time, NISMO powered Oak Racing (2013), SMP Racing (2014), G-Drive Racing (2015) and Signatech Alpine (2016) to championship success in the LM P2 class.
Nissan also powered the race victory in the LM P2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Greaves Motorsport (2011), OAK Racing (2013), Jota Sport (2014), KCMG (2015) and Signatech Alpine (2016).
In European Le Mans Series competition Nissan also scored six consecutive LM P2 championships.
“We’re sad that our time as an LM P2 engine supplier has come to end in the FIA WEC, but after five seasons and 37 victories we are immensely proud of our involvement and grateful to have had the opportunity to power so many teams to victory,” said NISMO Global Motorsport Director Mike Carcamo. “The fact that LM P2 was an open engine competition, and we have become so successful that every single team in this year’s championship chose NISMO power, is very rewarding. Despite the rule change for next year, Nissan remains committed to prototype-style racing through LMP3 competition. Our VK45DE engine will also remain available for teams competing in the Asian Le Mans Series.”
Two of this year’s LM P3 championship winning drivers, Mike Guasch and Alex Brundle (United Autosport), got to test LM P2 machinery in Bahrain after the final FIA WEC with Manor WEC. Brundle has enjoyed a busy season; he not only won the LM P3 with Nissan power but also drove with Roman Rusinov and René Rast in Saturday’s P2 win with G-Drive Racing.
Nissan Bows Out of LMP2 with @FIAWEC Season Sweep: https://t.co/vzFQlER00l @NISMO #WEC pic.twitter.com/t7dxrIic65
— Sportscar365 (@sportscar365) November 22, 2016
NISMO Calendar
December 3-4
Australian Supercars, Homebush Street Circuit, Sydney, NSW,Australia
December 11
NISMO Festival, Fuji International Speedway, Japan
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Contact
Jane Johnstone
Marketing Communications Director
Global Motorsport Communications
Nissan/NISMO
Phone: +44 7979 710646
Email: jane.johnstone@nissan.co.uk
Paul Ryan
Marketing and PR Manager
Phone: +1 678 644 0404
Email: paul@nismosupport.com