LAST weekend was not only a successful one for Nissan’s GT1 Championship interests, but also a memorable one for the firm’s Le Mans Series side, too.
The Nissan-powered TDS Racing Oreca took the victor’s spoils at the 1000kms of Spa on Sunday, with Nissan power also taking second place with the Boutsen Energy Racing Oreca.
But contact with a BMW prevented another Nissan-power car – the Signatech Nissan – from taking first place. Driven by Nissan’s GT Academy graduate, Lucas Ordonez and his team-mates Franck Mailleux and Soheil Ayari, the car eventually finished in fifth place.
Just before he pitted from the lead, Ayari had contact with a BMW and when Ordonez took the wheel he felt that the steering wasn’t as it should be.
‘It was all looking good at the start,’ said Mailleux. ‘Lucas felt a vibration when he took over from Soheil so when he came in we changed the steering rack just to be safe.
‘It’s good Le Mans training for the mechanics! Lucas’ times were good and he was on used tyres so he is doing a good job. We are of course disappointed not to win as we know we have the package to deliver the top results. Now we focus on Le Mans!’