Nissan after much hype and press coverage has withdrawn from LMP1 racing. Problems with the energy recovery system meant that it ran the Le Mans 24 Hours on engine power alone.
The Porsche Team took a one-two result in the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship – WEC – at the Nürburgring. The trio of Timo Bernhard (DE), Brendon Hartley (NZ) and Mark Webber (AUS) won the six-hour race in temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius. Right behind them, the sister Porsche 919 Hybrid of Romain Dumas (FR), Neel Jani (CH) and Marc Lieb (DE) came second.
Over the weekend, 62,000 people saw a repeat of Porsche’s one-two result at Le Mans in 2015, the third major success for the young team. For ex Formula One driver Mark Webber, it is the first WEC race win. Porsche has extended its lead in the manufacturers’ world championship 33 points ahead of Audi and 95 in front of defending champion Toyota. Nissan has withdrawn entirely after laughable efforts.
The Driver’s Championship has Audi leading after a three-four finish at the Nürburgring. Lotterer/Tréluyer continue in front, as they have ever since the season opener in April. Audi however was defeated for the first time in a 6-hour race this year. The Audi driver trio in car number ‘7’ had started from position three, maintained second place for a long time but in the end finished behind two Porsche sports prototypes.
“In the hot temperatures of nearly 30 degrees Celsius we weren’t as competitive this time as we were at the beginning of the season,” André Lotterer said, summing up the race. His teammate Marcel Fässler added: “The important thing was to maintain an advantage in the standings.”
Following the fourth podium result in four races, Benoît Tréluyer said, “Even though we weren’t battling for victory for a change, we managed to clinch a podium and to score important points in the process.”
Toyota Gazoo Racing finished fifth and sixth. Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima, in the #1, were the leading TS040 Hybrid in fifth position, with #2 of Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Mike Conway finishing sixth.
Nissan after much hype and press coverage has withdrawn from LMP1 racing. Mechanical problems with its energy recovery system meant that Nissan had to run at the Le Mans 24 Hours on engine power alone.
Nissan claims – with no results whatsoever to back it up – that its V6 3-liter twin turbo gasoline engine and the “unique aerodynamics “ of the GT-R LM NISMO were the main strengths of the car at Le Mans, but without a fully working ERS, many of the car’s other systems were compromised.
“We know people will be disappointed but be assured that nobody is more disappointed than us,” said Shoichi Miyatani, President of NISMO.
“We are racers and we want to compete but we also want to be competitive. That is why we have chosen to continue our test program and prepare the GT-R LM NISMO for the strong competition we face in the World Endurance Championship. When you innovate, you don’t give up at the first hurdle. We are committed to overcoming this challenge.”
