Nissan unveils DeltaWing race car

A race-prepared 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, featuring direct petrol injection and a turbocharger, will power Nissan DeltaWing as it races in anger for the first time at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours on 16-17 June. It weighs half that of a conventional racing car and will have half the aerodynamic drag meaning it will use half the fuel of its competitors. The engine, badged DIG-T (Direct Injection Gasoline – Turbocharged), is expected to produce around 300hp. While Nissan DeltaWing will not be classified in the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours, the company is looking to showcase the pioneering technology that will feed into the research and development of future technologies, that filter down to Nissan's road car product range. The driver sits well back in the car, almost over the rear axle and looks ahead down a long, narrow fuselage to narrow twin front tyres, specially created for the car by tyre partner Michelin. With a rear-mounted engine, the car has a strong rearward weight bias, which makes it highly manoeuvrable, while its light weight and shape make it far more efficient. As it doesn't conform to any existing championship regulations, Nissan DeltaWing will not be eligible to challenge for silverware and will carry the race number '0'. The first two Nissan DeltaWing drivers to be confirmed are British Sportscar racer, Marino Franchitti, and Nissan's reigning FIA GT1 World Champion, German Michael Krumm.