Top 20 moments of 2014, #8: Another LMP1 on track in 2015

Audi, Toyota and Porsche will have yet another challenger in 2015. And a challenger it should be.

Nissan will join the LMP1 ranks for the full WEC season with a two-car effort, in a car currently called the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO.

With a great amount of technical data gained from its ZEOD Project on efficient ways to fuel the car, Nissan’s VO Andy Palmer said they will be bringing another new approach to the ACO/FIA energy based P1 rules.

“LMP1 is not just an arms race, all our rivals in the class have taken different technical approaches and we will be doing the same,” he said. “(We want) to win in a very different way to that of our rivals. WE won’t be turning up in a vehicle that is basically another hybrid that looks like another Porsche, Audi or Totoyta. They all look the same to me. Our intention is to do something that is a little bit different.”

The car was then tested, in a very private test in Arizona. Not a single image of the car, or word of the technology was released after this test, and the public continued to wonder when we would learn more about the 2015 challenger.

Then, it hit.

Nissan released a video and poster hinting at a release of the car at the 2015 Superbowl.

Much speculation into a driver lineup has been had, but nothing is official until Nissan gives the word.

But, word on the track is that the leading names for making the two-car full season effort would be Nick Heidfeld, Olivier Pla and Stephane Sarrazin, with the rest of the lineup coming from the GT Academy drivers already in the Nissan stable.

The team also plans on fielding a third car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.