Nissan is set to “electrify” its audience at this weekend’s Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, South Australia, with its 100 percent electric racing car Nissan Leaf Nismo RC.
The zero-emission, purpose-built racing machine is powered by an electric motor with revolutionary lithium-ion batteries, so there is no fuel tank, no tail pipe and very little noise.
The three-piece body of the car is made of carbon fiber. The low, wide silhouette makes it ideal for racing.
The GT-R will be driven by Samantha Zanotto – while Michael Caruso will be at the wheel of his regular Norton Nissan Altima V8 Supercar.
Fans will see V8 Supercars champion Rick Kelly driving the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC at the “Nissan Time Attack” on both Saturday and Sunday at the Adelaide Parklands street circuit, racing against a Nissan Altima V8 Supercar and a Nissan GT-R road car.
Rick Kelly, said, “The LEAF NISMO RC is a pure racecar. It’s not going to sound like the racing cars we’ve all come to know, but the level of detail that NISMO has gone to in this car is amazing.”
“I’m also excited by what the future holds in the automotive industry and it’s great to be a part of a manufacturer that is a leader in automotive innovation, and in particular electric-powered vehicles, and the Leaf RC is a perfect example of that,” he added.
Leaf Nismo RC is the latest in Nissan’t catalogue of electric racecars. The latest in this category was Nizzan ZEOD RC, but it combines a 1.5-liter internal combustion engine alongside its electric engine.
Jeff Fisher, general manager, Motorsport – Nissan Motor Company Australia, said, “Clearly, as the world becomes more conscious of resource management, alternative energies will play an increasingly larger part in racetrack technology. The arrival of Energy Recovery Systems in F1 and the forthcoming Formula E electric race car championship are current examples of future technology in management of resources in the motorsport industry.”
The Nissan Leaf is changing the way we drive on the roads, with more than 100,000 zero-emission Leaf vehicles already sold worldwide, Fisher added. “And the Leaf RC is Nismo’s translation of that innovation to the race track – demonstrating high levels of torque and grip – all without the direct use of fossil fuel energy.”