Nissan Leaf to electrify events at Pikes Peak and Le Mans

Nissan going racing isn't news. Nissan going racing with the Leaf electric car is news.

The company is taking its all-electric Leaf Nismo RC and campaigning it at a support race for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Later in the month, a regular stock Leaf will tackle the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

The Leaf Nismo RC is close to the factory vehicle and will use the same 80-kilowatt AC electric motor as the production Leaf sedan, generating 107 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque.

Nissan has made a few adjustments for the race version, most notably converting the Leaf to rear-wheel drive, with the motor placed in front of the rear axle. The lithium-ion battery was relocated centrally for better weight distribution. Some of the interior parts were removed, such as seats and carpets, to make room for safety equipment. A roll cage was added along with racing seats and a racing harness.

The first public demonstration will be June 11-12 at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. The 8.4-mile track will be suspiciously quiet during the Le Mans Vers Le Futur race, where only cars will alternative powertrains will compete. Last year's experimental race saw the electric Audi R8 and a hydrogen-powered Mazda RX-8.

Later in the month, Nissan will take the regular electric Leaf to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take part in the most famous of hill climbs, Pikes Peak. The company will compete in the Electric class against a 2010 Summit Her-02. Nissan off-road truck-racing champion Chad Hord will be behind the wheel. Hord has competed in many forms of off-road racing. Look for the racing Leaf to make more appearances this summer, Nissan says.

By Jake Lingeman