Revealing LMP1s, wanting it or not

In only four days we had a lot of hype about the LMP1 class, as the first designs for the main contenders of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship start to appear to the public.

Last Friday (16) saw Porsche finally reveal  at its home ground inWeissach the 2015 version of its 919 Hybrid machine, which is part of the huge movements made by the German manufacturer to finally become a true FIA WEC title contender, as well to fight for a win at Le Mans.

The first shots of the car, still in black testing livery, visually show that the changes and revisions were reserved to the front section, although it still lacks some good rear shots to know if there are other changes in the 919 Hybrid.The splitter was reshaped a little, as well as the area around the headlights, which is a little thinner than the previous model. The nose section was heavily reshaped, becoming curvier, not even resembling the 2014 model.

Most of what was under the bodywork last year is still in the 2015 version, with some tweaks and upgrades in it. The V4 engine is still there, supported by two energy recovery systems, expected to be upgraded to the 8MJ hybrid power category that Porsche wants.

And as the Stuttgart guys willingly showed its weapon, we had another LMP1 contender being revealed, not exactly by its owners.

After a lot of months, announcements and secrets, this Monday (19) the first shots of the new Nissan GT-R LM NISMO were showed to the public, as the exotic prototype was caught in action at the Circuit of the Americas, and reported by Jalopnik. Still in test livery, we can say that a little of the exciting over Nissan’s Super Bowl announcement was gone, but although the shape is already known, there are lots of doubts about the car.

By the content shown, Nissan really fulfilled with what they promised: a machine that is completely different from what the other LMP1 manufacturers offer.The cockpit position and the large front end proves that the Godzilla LMP1 will be mid or front-engined, but almost certainly will be front-wheel drive, discarding the hybrid power, in what can be called this decade version of what was called during  the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans a “front-engined monster”: the Panoz LMP1 Roadster-S.

But, even as we know the shape of it, we can’t guarantee that this will be the final version of the GT-R LM NISMO, and there are a lot of doubts on the fans’ minds, especially regarding what’s under the hood. Probably it will be a V6 Turbo engine assisted by an unconfirmed hybrid system, which is rumoured to reach mind-blowing 2000 HP.

Thinking on what was revealed, what we have is still a fraction of what the LMP1 reserves to us, even considering that Audi and Toyota (and Nissan, officially) didn’t presented their cards. But a thing is certain: eyes on the screen, the LMP1 class will be epic in 2015.

PHOTOS: Porsche Motorsport