The confirmation yesterday that the next generation of spec LMP2 engines from 2028 will see Gibson combine with Nissan, sees the two entities combine in the class for a second time.
The Nissan badging of the twin turbo V6 that will replace the 2017 GK428 4.2-litre normally-aspirated V8 follows on from the 2011-2016 programme. That utilised Gibson (then Zytek Engineering) built 4.5 litre production-based VK45DE engines for the Le Mans Series, FIA WEC, ELMS, IMSA, ILMC and Le Mans 24 Hours.
The engines continued in the Asian Le Mans Series for a further two seasons before finally being phased out after an eight year spell in the class.
During that period, the Zytek-built engines powered chassis from a wide variety of builders, including Zytek/Gibson, Lola, ORECA (and Alpine), Oak Morgan, Ligier, Dome, and BR Engineering.
All told Nissan-powered LMP2s won 91 races during that era either overall or in class.
They were unbeaten at Le Mans, scoring no fewer than five class wins. Add to that Le Mans Series and ILMC titles in 2011, FIA WEC Teams’ World Cups from 2013-2016 and Drivers’ titles 2012-2016, ELMS Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships from 2011-2016 (again unbeaten), and Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 Am titles in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
It was quite the project…
