Nissan DeltaWing launch – heading for Le Mans

Nissan DeltaWing

The Nissan DeltaWing experimental race car is powered by Nissan’s 1.6 litre DIG-T engine and heading to Le Mans.

We know Nissan likes a bit of ‘eco’, as evidenced by its commitment to the LEAF. We also know they like a bit of power and something a bit bonkers, as evidenced by the Nissan Juke-R. So what better way to combine those core values at Nissan that get involved in an ‘eco’ Le Mans project? Step forward the Nissan DeltaWing.

The Nissan DeltaWing is Dan Gurney’s All American Racers car with Nissan’s technology bolted in to create a car that will compete at Le Mans, but outside of any normal classification. Powered by a Nissan 1.6 litre DIG-T engine (with the same roots as the Juke’s engine) it develops about 300bhp, putting it somewhere between LMP1 and LMP2 Le Mans cars.

The DeltaWing will have the number ’0′ and use Garage 56 and, although it will race, it won’t be classified in the results but has been given special dispensation by the AOC (Le Mans organisers) to compete. And even though it’s well down on power it will be interesting to see how well it performs with the much lower weight of the little 1.6 litre engine.

The first drivers of the DeltaWing are British Sportscar racer Marino Franchitti and Nissan’s FIA GT1 World Champion Michael Krumm, with the first public outing for the DeltaWing due on Thursday (15th March) at Sebring.

We’ll be watching with interest at a Nissan project that may have eco-credentials but still fires petrol round the veins.

(28 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK