WEC – Nissan stops testing at Sebring

After the surprise of its revelation at the beginning of February, and the questions that surrounded the insight of its technical concept (front engine, traction, narrow rear wheels, etc.), the Nissan began the most delicate phase of its young career: His development.

The Japanese hybrid LM P1 prototype was at the start of the week in Sebring, Florida, at the same time as Audi and its R18 e-tron quattro, to conduct a five-day test session. Unfortunately, on the second day, it had to be interrupted due to the breakage of a mechanical element. relating to the engine », Confided Ben Bowlby, technical director of the project, without revealing anything else more precise. According to our information, the problem could come from a weakness in the gearbox housing, significantly exposed by the architecture chosen with this transmission element in a slight front overhang.

In the absence of a spare part, Nissan therefore repacked the equipment prematurely, without having the guarantee of being able to return to the track in the coming days and before the obligatory Prologue which will take place on the Paul-Ricard circuit, March 27-28 , in the Var.

The Nissan GT-R LM Nismo was still able to complete 68 laps of the Florida track with Marc Gené and Olivier Pla at the wheel. Conversely, no time has been communicated, but the performance gap with Audi seems large. Let's give Nissan time to showcase its creation which has, until today, only undergone nine days of testing...