Nissan wants American driver for LM P1
Nissan wants American driver for LM P1
Nissan will begin the search for an American star to join its new LM P1 Le Mans 24 Hour and FIA World Endurance Championship team, giving a former gamer the opportunity to graduate to the highest levels of the sport.
Nissan’s GT Academy competition is already renowned as one of the most innovative driver development programmes in history.
During the past six years, GT Academy has had more than five million entrants via PlayStation, more than one billion virtual miles have been driven in Nissans on Gran Turismo, and the programme’s television packages have been seen by more than 120 million people across the globe.
Former US GT Academy winners Bryan Heitkotter (2011), Steve Doherty (2012) and Nick McMillen (2013) plus a number of other past American finalists will be given the chance to impress the new Nissan LM P1 team’s bosses.
The goal for Nissan’s LM P1 team was revealed at Circuit of The Americas at the US round of the FIA World Endurance Championship and follows yesterday’s celebration of NISMO’s 30th anniversary.
Nissan’s new LM P1 team will have a base in the US, taking advantage of track facilities in the warmer southern states climate to test its new machine which will do battle against Audi, Porsche and Toyota from next year.
The team is currently setting up its new US home, refurbishing the former Indianapolis headquarters of Champ Car team, Forsythe Racing.
“All the US winners of GT Academy have gone on to taste victory in major professional events around the world,” said Darren Cox, Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, NISMO.
“But we have also been blessed with some other amazing talents in every year of the competition – an embarrassment of riches really. Some of the guys who didn’t win have gone on to launch motorsport careers after using GT Academy as a kickstart.
“We have our eye on some additional drivers that we would like to put through their paces again and see if we have somebody who could have what it takes to drive for Nissan in LM P1 at Le Mans.”
Nissan today also announced that it will be the sole engine supplier for the new LM P3 class that will contest the European Le Mans Series from next year.
“Once we identify the most suitable GT Academy alumni, we will put him through an extensive program with the aim of putting them in an LM P3 car. LM P2 would be the next step at Le Mans – we’ll use every driver development tool we have to take them to the next level but they will also have to step up,” Cox said.
“It is going to take more than just talent to get them into an LM P1 car but the opportunity will be there if they are prepared to work for it.
“Getting experience in prototype machinery will be a critical component of the development process. We already have a number of past GT Academy winners from Europe who we are looking at for the LM P1 program – many of whom have already raced in LM P2.”
A dream weekend for Porsche Penske Motorsport going 1-2 at Indianapolis
Kellymoss provides drivers a path to the IMSA WeatherTech Championship
Michelin tires and a repaved Road America track combined to shatter 11 IMSA qualifying and race lap records
Lasting performance of Michelin tires at Lime Rock guides Heart of Racing Aston Martin to double win
Challenging Track. Great rewards for Michelin during IMSA’s stop at CTMP.
Kellymoss provides drivers a path to the IMSA WeatherTech Championship
Michelin tires and a repaved Road America track combined to shatter 11 IMSA lap records
Lasting performance of Michelin tires at Lime Rock guides Heart of Racing Aston Martin to double win
Challenging Track. Great rewards for Michelin during IMSA’s stop at CTMP.
Michelin takes on technically demanding track to help produce thrilling IMSA Six Hours of the Glen
