Nissan ZEOD RC Set to Begin Testing Next Month

Photo: Nissan

Nissan’s ZEOD RC will make its on-track debut in full race configuration next month, it has been revealed.

Speaking with Sportscar365, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director Darren Cox confirmed that the car’s gasoline-powered engine has begun dyno testing, with the powerplant’s exact configuration to be announced by the end of this month.

“The car will run on track with all of the drivetrain in place very soon after that, so late January or early February,” Cox told Sportscar365. “We’ll be pounding around by then.”

The ZEOD RC, which will compete as the Garage 56 entry in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, made its official debut during the FIA WEC Six Hours of Fuji weekend last October in the hands of Michael Krumm, although the car only ran in full electric mode up the front straight.

Nissan GT Academy star Jann Mardenborough completed an additional test at a U.K. airfield last month, also without the internal combustion engine.

“We like doing challenging things,” Cox admitted. “It’s bloody challenging. The electric side of stuff is a huge challenge. But as we expected, we are learning a huge amount about that side of endurance racing.”

The ZEOD RC is the precursor towards a planned factory LMP1 entry for Nissan in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John