NISSAN has revealed its plans for next week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and they are bound to cause a stir with spectators.
Record breakers?
The firm will be setting out to claim two records at the West Sussex event (July 1-3) and it will be the LEAF and Juke that set them.
The Nissan LEAF, 2011 Car of the Year, will attempt to become the fastest car ever to be driven up the famous hill climb course – backwards.
Unlike petrol-powered cars, in which reverse gear allows only low speeds, the LEAF has an electric powertrain that, theoretically, enables it to be driven backwards as fast as it can go forwards.
This means the car has a potential reverse top speed of 90mph – the only modification to the LEAF will be the removal of an electronic feature which prevents high-speed reversing.
Nissan will also makes its first attempt at a two-wheeled record up the Goodwood Hill, with the Juke aiming to become the fastest four-wheeled machine to climb the entire course using just two wheels.
Professional stunt driver, Terry Grant, will be the man attempting to set the records in the LEAF and Juke by performing the stunts once every day.
‘I’ve experienced Goodwood before but never attempted to set a new record,’ said Grant. ‘To have the chance to grab not only one but two records at the same event will hopefully provide everyone with a very entertaining spectacle.’
LEAF NISMO RC’s UK debut
A few weeks after the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC made demonstration runs at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the ‘Racing Competition’ version of the electric car will make its UK dynamic debut at the West Sussex event.
Spectators will be able to see the purpose-built prototype that wraps production LEAF components and technology in a carbon fibre body, up close. The has been designed to show that electric cars can be fast and exciting.
Let the GT1 GT-R’s celebrations begin
In a more conventional demonstration run on the hill climb course, one of the Sumo Power GT team’s GT1 race-winning Nissan GT-Rs.
Celebrating the second win in succession of the RAC tourist trophy at Silverstone in the FIA GT1 championship this year, the 600bhp V8 car is visiting Goodwood for the first time.
Behind the wheel will be Alex Buncombe, Nissan’s FIA European GT4 Championship and GT Academy driver.
Supercar Paddock
Meanwhile, the road going 2011 GT-R and the special edition 370Z GT edition will also take part in the non-competitive supercar run, and they are sure to be star attractions in the Supercar Paddock.
Nissan’s new stand
Visitors to the Festival will also be able to enjoy Nissan’s exciting, interactive new stand display.
The wind tunnel-themed display features the ESFLOW concept car, an electric sports car for the future. The LEAF will also be on show… In 3D, and visitors will be able put their design skills to the test in the ‘Innovation Lab’, and also will be able enter the GT Academy and win some amazing prizes.