Nissan: Petit Le Mans victory for Nissan at Road Atlanta

Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia Nissan has finished the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on a high note with victory in the final race of the season at the Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

Scott Sharp, Brendon Hartley and Ryan Dalziel took the win after the ESM team dominated the 10-hour event. The Nissan entries qualified second and third, and battled with the Penske Racing team, which made its debut in preparation for its full-time return in 2018.

Issues for Penske enabled ESM to take control. In the closing stages of the race, it looked like the team was set to clinch a 1-2 finish, with the No. 22 Nissan Onroak entry of Johannes van Overbeek, Pipo Derani and Bruno Senna holding the lead.

However, a late-race drive-through penalty for contact pushed the No.22 off the podium back to fourth place, handing Hartley the win in only his second drive for the team.

The No. 2 car led 140 of 402 laps, and the No. 22 car led 152. All together, the Nissan-powered prototypes led an incredible 73 percent of the 20th running of Petit Le Mans.

The race-winning Nissan Onroak DPi also had a small delay with an alternator issue late in the race, but quick work by the crew put the No. 2 entry back in contention for the race win.

“When we lost the lead in the pits from the alternator issue, I thought the race was over,” Dalziel said. “Sometimes, things are meant to work for you, and today was one of those days. The No. 2 definitely car needed it. I’m bummed we didn’t get a 1-2 finish.”

Added Dalziel: “For sure the team earned it. Overall, this was a great way to end the season for Nissan NISMO, Ed Brown, and the whole team. We’re going to enjoy this one until Daytona.”

Nissan’s first season in IMSA competition proved highly successful. The team scored two victories, and the No. 2 and No. 22 entries finished fifth and sixth in the team championship.

All four lead drivers, Sharp, Dalziel, Derani and Van Overbeek, have re-signed to return for the 2018 season, which will kick off at the “Roar Before the 24” test in Daytona in January.

Also noteworthy: Nissan took victory in the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge on Friday of the Petit Le Mans weekend, with Owen Trinkler and Sarah Cattaneo claiming victory in the ST class with their Nissan Altima.

NISMO Calendar

October 14-15

  • FIA WEC, Fuji International Speedway, Japan

October 21-22

  • ELMS, Portimao, Portugal
  • Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 

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Contact
Paul Ryan
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1-678-644-0404
paul@nismosupport.com