Nissan “draws back the curtain” on GT-R LM NISMO with NISMO University

Learn more about the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO

What is NISMO University?

 As part of Nissan's return to the LM P1 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour, the Japanese manufacturer will "draw back the curtain" on the technical secrets it takes to contest the world's toughest endurance race.

Manufacturers typically are highly secretive in their racing programs, guarding their technology like MI5 or the CIA.

Nissan will do exactly the opposite and give fans a look into the inner circle to provide an insight into what it takes to compete at the highest level. We want to provide an experience akin to being in the dugout at Yankee Stadium of a baseball game, or on the sideline with a manager in the Champions League of soccer, or on the balcony at Lords for a match of cricket.

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When will it start?

 NISMO University launches on April 10 at the Silverstone FIA World Endurance Championship round with an on-site fan forum and video. Even though we won't race at Silverstone – so we can continue with the Le Mans-specific development and testing of the car – Nissan is still running a full fan and media program over the race weekend. The launch of NISMO University is part of that.

How will fans "go to lectures"?

NISMO University will be a unique episodic multi-media program incorporating:

• Informative behind-the-scenes videos housed on NISMO.TV
• Infographics
• Detailed "lecture notes" and explanations
• Intricate photography, renderings and drawings providing unprecedented access from the design studio to the garage

From the race track back to the road

NISMO University will explain to the fans what happens on the race track and how it applies to your car on the road. Technology transfer from race to road is one of the key reasons why Nissan competes on the world stage.

Lessons learned at Le Mans and other great tracks from around the world help us develop better road cars of the future.

What will you learn?

NISMO University is more than just a lecture series. We're aiming to develop hands-on activities to showcase one of the most unique cars ever to compete at Le Mans. Our classes will include:

• What is an LM P1 car?
• What is the difference between endurance and sprint racing?
• Our LM P1 aerodynamics: how Nissan made a 200 mph vacuum cleaner!
• What is the difference between the front-wheel drive system on our LM P1 car and your Nissan Pulsar or Nissan Note?
• If every other competitor has the engine in the back, why does Nissan have its engine in the front?
• Don't you have the wheels on backwards? Why are the big tires at the front? (Episode in conjunction with our partner Michelin.)
• Being slick and keeping cool. The importance of lubricants and cooling fluids: How are they different to what is in your car? (Episode in conjunction with out partner, Motul.)
• Developing the driver. We've taken them from PlayStation to LM P1, but how does Nissan take its drivers to a whole new level?

The Master's Degree

NISMO University plans to educate our fans and provide them with the type of access that they have only ever dreamed about. But what if they still want to know more? What if we have inspired the Ben Bowlby of the future? That is our ultimate goal.

Nissan has already shown the world we can take young gamers to the highest levels of the sport through our innovative GT Academy program.

Now it's time to do the same with the engineering and design stars of the future. Work has commenced on a unique online learning course, which will go into even more detail to showcase the engineering and physics required to contest the Le Mans 24 Hour and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

You won't have to sit in a lecture hall or pay enormous fees to obtain a NISMO University Master's Degree; you'll be able to do it from your couch. It will be online and free of charge.

Full details on the NISMO University Masters Degree will be revealed soon.

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