Le Mans fans get their first official view of the Nissan DeltaWing when the track opens Sunday for the Official Test Day at the Circuit de la Sarthe, 130 miles southwest of Paris.

Based upon a radical design to reduce weight, horsepower, drag and fuel use by half, the Nissan DeltaWing appears at Le Mans under a special invitation as the “56th” entry enabling it to race outside many of the class rules, but ineligible to win or score points.

Designed by Ben Bowlby under the patronage of Chip Ganassi, built by Dan Gurney’s All American racers, entered by Duncan Dayton’s Highcroft Racing, and led by ALMS founder Dr. Don Panoz, the Delta Wing concept will be driven by Marino Franchitti, Michael Krumm and Satoshi Motoyama.

Michelin developed special four inch wide front tires critical to Bowlby’s design concept, while Nissan stepped up to provide both the 300 horsepower, 1.6 liter DIG-T-turbocharged engine and key technical support from RML.

The team has conducted tests at Sebring, Florida, Snetterton and Hethel, England, Magny Cours, France, and Aragon, Spain, heading into today’s Le Mans Test Day.