Remember the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo we showed you earlier this month? The bonkers front-wheel drive LMP1 hybrid racer, which will face up to the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, Toyota TS040 Hybrid and Porsche 919 Hybrid in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has been developed closely with Motul, and will exclusively use its lubricants for the gearbox and engine.
Motul’s technical relationship with Nissan extends back to 2003. Last year, the French-headquartered motorsport lubricant specialist celebrated its 100th race alongside Nismo. The season culminated in a further Championship title for Motul to add to the seven already achieved over the last 11 years with both factory and private teams competing in Super GT.
Motul’s presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans dates back to 1954. Its iconic logo has been seen on more than 200 cars at La Sarthe for over 60 years. The most recent partners to have claimed class victories are Greaves Motorsport in 2011 and Jota Sport in 2014, both in the LMP2 category and powered by Nismo engines.
The official pre-season test sessions for the World Endurance Championship, The Prologue, will take place on March 28 and 29 at Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France. This will be the first time the LMP1 Nissan will be seen on the same track at the same time as all of its opponents.
“We are delighted to welcome Motul to our LMP1 programme,” said Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani. “We have just celebrated the 2014 Super GT Championship win for the #23 Motul Autech GT-R so it is a proven and successful partnership. LMP1 is going to be our toughest challenge yet so we need partners we can rely on. Motul was the obvious choice for us.”
“We are extremely happy and proud to be returning to the top class of competition at Le Mans. What’s more, it’s with Nissan Nismo, maintaining the excellent working relationship we have had together for the last 11 years and with whom we share a culture of innovation and ingenuity,” said Motul management board president Hervé Amelot.
“We can’t wait to see the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo being let loose on Les Hunaudières at full speed!”
