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
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