Nissan to enter Le Mans with Signature Racing

The Japanese carmaker has signed a two year deal with Signature Group to build an open-cockpit LMP2-style race car to enter the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). Nissan states that the Signatech Nissan Racing team, as the new entity is called, will compete in the full season of the 2011 ILMC series.

As part of the deal, Nissan's Performance and Motorsports division, NISMO, will provide 3.4-litre racing versions of its VK series of V8 engines, which can be found under the bonnet of the Titan, Armada and Pathfinder pick-up and off-roader models.

The LMP2 race car will be driven by two Frenchmen, 40-year-old open-wheel and sports car veteran Soheil Ayari and 25-year-old F3 and Le Mans Series racer Franck Mailleux, as well as 25-year-old Spaniard Lucas Ordoñez, who is the winner of the inaugural Nissan and PlayStation GT Academy competition in Europe in 2008.

"Nissan is excited to see our new partnership with Signature kick off and we look forward to a very successful partnership with the team," said Jon Brancheau, Vice President Marketing Nissan. "I know [that] our customers, fans and dealers will be following our progress at Sebring and will be anticipating our return to the Le Mans 24 hours."