2014 Nissan ZEOD RC LeMans

Ask and ye shall receive?

Only last week, we lamented the lack of angles of the ZEOD RC versus the flawless 29 angles of the car’s potent 1.5-liter, 400HP turbo triple, which both propels the car and charges the batteries (we think.)

Well, the strip-tease continues for the ZEOD RC. The latest batch of info from Nissan’s UK-based Le Mans operation shows the real-life racer in much more detail.

(Just kidding — looks like we just did not look hard enough for images. This release is tagged October 21st, 2013.)

Nissan’s hybrid-electric Garage56 experimental entry is aiming for lap times in the LMP2 category, we assume — but ideally benchmarking times that are v. competitive with the Porsche 919 and Audi R18 triplets.

Others? Yes, Toyota is also in the LMP1 mix this year with their German-based motorsports team.

Will Toyota win? Few expect a good showing at all from the Big T, which has long suffered from its lackluster racing performance. They just do not win much, is all.

The Nissan ZEOD RC is really quite an attractive proposition.

The main real reason the ZEOD RC will run in the Garage56 class is that its slim-nose design does not conform to the current LMP1 body and grip rules.

Interesting observation: this is a hard car to photograph. It might be an optical illusion, but the real-deal racer might have lost a significant amount of nose length versus the initial prototypes.

It is not easy to determine without the still-very-private specifications — thought I would share this perhaps-incorrect observation regardless.

Best thing of all?

But this ZEOD RC does not run on hydrogen dreams or caviar wishes. This powertrain is absolutely as state-of-the-art and secret as what actually spins the tires of the 919 and R18 Ultra or R18 e-tron Quattro.

One thing is for sure: the Nissan entry will be quite a memorable sight this year at Le Mans. I’ve nicknamed the ZEOD “White Lightning.”

Here are the key details:

— THE PROTOTYPE

— THE CAR — Static Gallery

— THE CAR in Motion — Dynamic Gallery

— THE DRIVERS — Brought up through the GranTurismo NISMO driver challenges, these guys are talented, agrressive winners who are eager to prove their chops.

— THE ENGINEERS — Phenom Chassis and Engine Tech Wizards

— THE EXECUTIVES — Well done, guys! This car is exciting. White Lightning as a nickname? [It is better than calling it … greased lightning =]

— THE ENGINE

Official Details from Mt. Fuji runs below.

• Electric prototype runs at Fuji Speedway for the first time

• Nissan’s Executive Vice-President talks about ZEOD RC

• Nissan-powered teams take top seven LM P2 positions in rain-curtailed FIA WEC race

Fuji, Japan (Oct. 21, 2013) – Nissan’s revolutionary ZEOD RC electric prototype had its on track debut in Japan last weekend with Michael Krumm at the wheel of the car that will race at next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

The car was unveiled at Nismo headquarters in Yokohama on Thursday and performed three demonstration runs at Fuji Speedway in conjunction with the Japanese round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The Nissan ZEOD RC will complete an entire 8.5 mile lap of Le Mans next year on pure electric power at speeds in excess of 300km/h (186 mph). When running on its internal combustion engine, the ZEOD RC will recharge its battery using regenerative braking.

Key Nissan executives including Executive Vice President Andy Palmer were on site at Fuji to see the car’s debut.

The car will now head back to the UK this week to continue its testing and development program. The Nissan ZEOD RC will occupy “Garage 56” at Le Mans next year – an entry reserved for cars showcasing new and innovative technology previously not seen at the French endurance classic.