The Nissan ZEOD RC completed its first 24 laps of Circuit de la Sarthe with GT Academy winner Wolfgang Reip and two-time Le Mans P2 winner Tommy Erdos at the wheel.
While the car was delayed with two small technical issues – a broken fuel pump issue and a broken exhaust – test was an important step in the development of the car that aims to complete an entire lap of Le Mans on pure electric power.
“Today has been a very important step in the development of the car and what we have achieved is actually quite remarkable,” said NISMO’s Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, Darren Cox. “We knew we were tackling a huge challenge with the goal of building a car that could complete an entire 8.5 mile lap of Le Mans on nothing but electric power. We have certainly discovered why nobody has tackled it previously.
“We completed large sections of the circuit today on EV power and learned a great deal,” Cox continued. “Today was about testing the systems and ensuring the transition from electric to internal combustion power was seamless. Testing at other venues is extremely valuable but there is no substitute to running here at Le Mans. We ran with the test car today and we’ll continue to test with the actual race car all week back in the UK before heading back for the race.
“I’m very proud of everyone associated with the program because of the amount of work that has gone in. Today was very rewarding. Our guys already feel like they have raced the 24 hours already. They did two all-nighters last week. The level of commitment to showcase what this program is capable of is truly remarkable.”
The Nissan ZEOD RC team will continue testing in the UK this week with the actual race car, which will replace the test machine that was used today. Super GT regulars Satoshi Motoyama and Lucas Ordóñez will return from Japan to join Reip at the wheel for the race.
