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Le Mans 24 Hour - Preview

By MJP Media / Formula Photographie | 12 June 2015

For the 83rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Audi, Porsche and Toyota have a new threat in the form of Nissan's GT-R LM Nismo.

In recent years there have been only three realistic contenders but now there are four. Audi, Porsche and Toyota are the immediate likely winners of this the 83rd 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race takes place this weekend on June 13-14 but for 2015 we have a new boy on the block - the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo. Will it be quick enough in its first year with the big boys? Who knows, but Nissan don't do things by half.

Audi arrive at Le Sarthe as defending Le Mans champions. In addition, they have won more Le Mans than any other manufacturer and had a sensational season last year winning the World Endurance Championship. Porsche had big expectations last year but faded during the race and were overshadowed by Audi. This year the 2015 specification car has been more competitive with two pole positions ahead of the Audis in the opening two rounds of the World Endurance Championship at Silverstone and Spa. Toyota will be there or thereabouts. When it comes to hybrid technology, Toyota is always at the cutting edge, although they have been unpredictable so far this year.

Nissan have really pulled out all of the stops for the 2015 race, going from initial plans to the car being out on track here in less than 15 months. Unlike Formula 1, innovation gets a free reign in car design for Le Mans and Nissan's 1,000 bhp hybrid by their racing Nismo division could easily upset the big boys if Nissan were to get it right on the day - but that is a big 'if' given Nissans lack of track time with the car.

The first Le Mans test on May 31 is unusual as it is voluntary so not everyone chooses to run. Add into the mix that it rained and that there was a mandatory safety car practice and we were set to learn precisely nothing on the day. Given the damp nature of the track we didn't even see Le Mans' party piece - a lap where over 80% is spent at full throttle.

Nissan were massively on the back foot for the test, only completing their 3rd car in the garage whilst everyone else was already out on track. Nissan however had promised to have the fastest car at Le Mans and duly obliged with a 336 km/h through the speed traps but the car was well off on the overall lap times so probably not enough to throw a surprise at the weekend.

Heading into the weekend the data suggests that at the moment, the Porsches are marginally quicker than the Audis and Toyotas with the Nissan being some way behind however this is motorsport and the race might just throw in a few surprises.

Words copyright MJP Media
Pictures copyright MJP Media / Formula Photographie

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