The revolution Nissan ZEOD RC that will bring electric power to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans is nearing completion.

A team of Nissan engineers has worked around the clock in the UK to finish the inaugural car build and fit the twin electric engines that will initially power the car. Throughout the course of the development program, Nissan will test a number of “electrified” drive train options before locking in its package for next year’s Le Mans 24 Hour.

The goal of the Michelin equipped car will be to complete a lap of the 8.5 mile Le Mans circuit on nothing but electric power. The final race package is expected to feature a small petrol powered engine alongside the electric power plants with the driver having the ability to switch between the two options.

Spaniard Lucas Ordóñez was announced last week as the official test and development driver for the program at the Nissan 360 global media event in California.

The 28-year-old Spaniard was the inaugural Nissan PlayStation GT Academy winner and this year recently scored a third place class finish at the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour.

Ordóñez will climb aboard the Nissan ZEOD RC for the first time next week when his custom-molded seat will be manufactured. When the car hits the track for the first time, the ZEOD RC will run in pure electric mode with zero emissions.

“We’re at a very exciting time in the development of the car and ready to kick off what will be an extensive test program between now and when we roll out the pit lane for the first time at Le Mans next year,” said Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director, Darren Cox.

“Just developing a single power train option in only twelve months would be a mammoth task but we’re looking to carefully examine a number of options to ascertain which will be best suited for Le Mans.

“But it is not just about what is going to be best for the race. We’re developing technologies that will speed up development of road cars in the future. The Le Mans 24 Hour is the toughest endurance event in the world and by participating in the event we can really fast track the development of some of these technologies.”