Great return of Japan in endurance

This year, three Japanese manufacturers are making their comeback at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Honda, Nissan and Toyota return to LMP1 and LMP2.

Published on 21/04/2011 à 12:14

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The Honda colors will be worn by Highcroft Racing in LMP1. The HPD ARX-01e of David Brabham, Marino Franchitti and simon pagenaud finished the 12 Hours of Sebring in second position, not far from the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Oreca victorious. Honda will also be present in LMP2, notably with the Lola from Level 5 Motorsports and the HPD ARX-01d from Strakka Racing and RML.

Toujours en catégorie reine, les Lola du Rebellion Racing sont cette année motorisées par un V8 Toyota. Une bonne opération pour l’écurie suisse qui espère bien entendu en tirer profit à l?image de son bon début de saison. La voiture a terminé 7ème à Sebring grâce à Nicolas Cheers, Neel Jani and Jeroen Bleekemolen, then 2nd in the first round of the Le Mans Series at Castellet thanks to Andrea Belicchi and Jean-Christophe Boullion.

For its part, Nissan has focused on a return to LMP2. The manufacturer supplies an engine to the ORECA 03s of the ORECA and Signatech teams, but also to the Zytek of Greaves Motorsport, victorious in its category at the 6 Hours of Le Castellet. With the first named, it goes further, since Philippe Sinault's team even takes the name Signatech Nissan.