DeltaWing, an experimental racecar project set to compete in the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race this June. Nissan's contribution comes in the form of their 1.6-liter DIG-T (Direct Injection Gasoline - Turbocharged) engine. Meanwhile, Nissan will benefit from the lessons learned with the DeltaWing which will simultaneously act as test bed for new road car technologies. The groundbreaking DeltaWing project was first announced in 2010 as a design proposal for Indycar but then received approval in 2011 to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2012. Originally backed by British designer Ben Bowlby, Don Panoz, the All-American Racers organization (Dan Gurney, Highcroft Racing and Michelin Tires N.A.), the DeltaWing effort is known as Project 56 which highlights the fact that the car is a special 56th entry reserved for "a vehicle showcasing new applications and unique technologies previously unseen in the world's greatest endurance race." The race-prepared 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is expected to produce around 300hp (224 kW / 304 PS) which is only half the power of conventional racecar prototypes. However, the Nissan DeltaWing which boasts half the weight and half the aerodynamic drag is capable of lap times between LMP1 and LMP2 machines at Le Mans. The first two Nissan DeltaWing drivers to be confirmed are British Sportscar racer Marino Franchitti and Nissan's reigning FIA GT1 World Champion Michael Krumm. The car will make its first public demo laps at Sebring, Florida on March 15. At Le Mans the Deltwing will wear number "0" and run outside race classifications. Read more: Nissan joins DeltaWing experimental racecar project - ready for Le Mans [video] I'm always interested in the LeMans race but on this occasion this thing will make it even more so.
This year's LeMans should be very interesting now. Thanks for the post buddy! Sebring's this weekend, so we should get a better look at it there.
Please Nissan, bring up a new Silvia powered by this 1.6l I4 making 300 PS. Let it not weigh more than 1150 kg.
This is not a Nissan, it's the old Delta Wing proposed as the new Indycar. Nissan is the engine supplier and one of the financial backers.
