Yes you read the title correct - Nissan will be taking a LEAF to Le Mans after securing the "Garage 56" slot. After the success of the DeltaWing, Nissan will be taking the heavily modified LEAF Nismo RC to the French circuit in a bid to raise it's awareness.

The DeltaWing was half the weight of an LMP1, ran with half the fuel, and used half the tyre wear. Does Nissan want to be the first to take an electric car to Le Mans? That makes sense from a marketing and technology point of view. Whether electric is the right way forward is a topic of debate at the moment, but Nissan is committed to that cause, and now has a way of showing it.

Just one thing though - don't tell BossFox about this! It brings what appears to be his current passions of modifying cars and electric cars together in one.

Damn. Rumbled.

Sorry for the delay.

In all seriousness though, it is a very bold move by Nissan.

There are some big logistical issues to get round for the race - I assume it will be totally all electric and will have to change battery packs in the pit stops. That won't be a problem because some time ago a Nurburgring 24h team figured that it was faster to change a whole fuel tank rather than refuel, the FIA promptly changed the rules and banned that! However, they will still need to last for at least 45 minutes each and that is no easy task. Furthermore, as with the DeltaWing the car will have moveable aerodynamic devices to reduce the drag and increase energy consumption on the straights, but to run at LMP2 or even LMPC speeds on electric power for that length of time is going to be a challenge.

It's a difficult task and Nissan are starting much further back than the DeltaWing project did and have the "56" slot for 2014, but the success will be difficult to measure because of the "56" slot.

I agree, Nissan will know what they are doing.

But it's obviously got very little in common with the road car.

A large supply of quickly replaced batteries are the order of the day and it's nice to see them doing something different.

Will be interesting to see. Gives me another reason to try and watch Le Mans this year

I watched the FIA GT Series yesterday on Motors TV, from Nagaro.

Absolutely fantastic last 40 minutes - Sebastian Loeb Racing McLaren MP4-12C was leading, but got overtaken during pit stops by the lead Audi R8. The McL then bumped the R8 going into a tight right hander which dropped the R8 back a few places, it stormed back in wet conditions lapping some 0.2-0.5 secs per lap quicker than the McL to win. Audi took a clean sweep of the podium after one of the R8s moved up 2 positions on the final lap with some hair raising overtaking past the Merc SLS.

Haven't done Le Man yet but always wanted to and like to watch the events when I can. World Endurance Series is at Silverstone next weekend (13/14) but unfortunately can't make it but am hoping to go for the Blancpain Series in May.

I will have to go and see some racing live this year. I can forget F1 at Silverstone as that's silly money. It often comes up with my mates about seeing Le Mans live and making a holiday out of it

Come on Martyn, there's a race circuit almost on your door step!!

(even if they are all "one ii's!!)

Come on Martyn, there's a race circuit almost on your door step!!

(even if they are all "one ii's!!)

Race circuits nearby are Pembrey and Llandow. Rallying, well as you know there's plenty of opportunities to see some of that., even if WRC is supposed to be more North this year

Looks like WRGB will come as far south as Hafren, Sweet Lamb, and possibly Epynt. I should get the first draft of the route soon. Should have been out this weekend by the Rally of North wales has been cancelled.

Looks like WRGB will come as far south as Hafren, Sweet Lamb, and possibly Epynt. I should get the first draft of the route soon. Should have been out this weekend by the Rally of North wales has been cancelled.

Yeah I did see it had been. Odd when rallies in Finland have been fine and is a lot worse. Lack of rally spec winter tyres? Wonder what the Finnish drivers who were supposed to come over thought

Try 8' snow drifts and sheet ice 6" thick. I've got a friend who lives further up the valley from Corris and he didn't get out for 4 days!

Interesting prospect to see how the FIA treat the 'refuelling' of an electric vehicle, specially as technically under the FIA rules, around banning the change of the tank & fuel, As batteries are actually the tank & fuel for the vehicle.

So it could be a case of 3 laps then 30 min charge, 3 laps then 30 mins charge :D

Interesting prospect to see how the FIA treat the 'refuelling' of an electric vehicle, specially as technically under the FIA rules, around banning the change of the tank & fuel, As batteries are actually the tank & fuel for the vehicle.

So it could be a case of 3 laps then 30 min charge, 3 laps then 30 mins charge :D

Well, someone has to deliver milk to all those pit crews.

It will certainly be interesting. IIRC from when BMW were trying to get the electric car record at the 'Ring in a MINI, it was temperature control of the batteries that caused a problem. They needed keeping cool to perform best but got damn hot under full load.