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⚫ {{Infobox racing car
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2006}}
| image = Nissan_R391_front-left.jpg
⚫ {{Infobox automobile
|name=Nissan R391 | predecessor = ]
|manufacturer=] | successor = ]
| debut = ]
|production=1999
| first_win = ]
|predecessor=]
|class= ] | last_win = ]
| last_event = ]
|layout=]
| races = 2
|engine=5.0L ] V8
| wins = 1
| podiums = 1
| poles = 0
| fastest laps = 0
| engine name = Nissan VRH50A
| turbo/na = Naturally Aspirated
| capacity = 5.0L
| configuration = V8
| power = 650 hp (478 kW)
| category = ]
| designer = Nigel Stroud and Doug Skinner
}} }}
The '''Nissan R391''' was a ] ] built by ] and their motorsports counterpart ] for competition at the ]. It was a replacement for the ], which was no longer legal in its production-based class. The '''Nissan R391''' is a ] ] built by ] and their motorsports counterpart ] for competition at the ]. It was a replacement for the ], which was no longer legal in its production-based class.


==History== ==History==
⚫ Following Nissan's return to sportscar racing in 1995, motorsports division ] had been slowly climbing its way up the competition ladder to finally reach the top ] class. Starting with ] LMs in 1995, ] turned to developing the advanced ] in 1997, which was effectively as close to a prototype as possible while still remaining street legal.
⚫ ]
⚫ Following Nissan's return to sportscar racing in 1995, motorosports division ] had been slowly climbing its way up the competition ladder to finally reach the top ] class. Starting with ] LMs in 1995, ] turned to developing the advanced ] in 1997, which was effectively as close to a prototype as possible while still remaining street legal.


With major rule changes in the GT in 1999, major manufacturers were no longer able to build homologation specials which resembled prototypes more than true GT cars. Thus ], ], ], ], and ] turned to the prototypes class, either using open cockpit prototypes or closed cockpit cars which were actually evolutions of their former GT cars. ], believing that a purpose built prototype would be superior to an evolved GT car, decided to go the route of an open cockpit. With major rule changes in the GT in 1999, major manufacturers were no longer able to build homologation specials which resembled prototypes more than true GT cars. Thus ], ], ], ], and ] turned to the prototypes class, either using open cockpit prototypes or closed cockpit cars which were actually evolutions of their former GT cars. ], believing that a purpose built prototype would be superior to an evolved GT car, decided to go the route of an open cockpit.


] turned to the UK based firm ] to design and build the R391. Nigel Stroud would head up the car's design and Glenn Elgood as the race team fabricator. Nissan also formed a partnership with long time customer of their second hand sportscars, ]. As part of a deal between the two, Nissan would give ] 3.5L turbocharged V8 motors (left over from the R390 GT1) to Courage for use on their own prototype, while Nissan would in return gain expertise from Courage for use on the R391. Nissan would also buy a Courage C52 chassis to run under their own team in order to have reliability in case the R391s suffered from mechanical gremlins, with Le Mans being their first race. ] turned to the UK based firm ] to design and build the R391. Nigel Stroud would head up the car's design alongside Doug Skinner as the chief designer and Glenn Elgood as the race team fabricator. Nissan also formed a partnership with a longtime customer of its second hand sportscars, ]. As part of a deal between the two, Nissan would give ] 3.5L turbocharged V8 motors (left over from the R390 GT1) to Courage for use on their own prototype, while Nissan would in return gain expertise from Courage for use on the R391. Nissan would also buy a ] chassis to run under their own team in order to have reliability in case the R391s suffered from mechanical gremlins, with the ] being their first race with the C52.


For the R391, ] would decide to use a new version of the ], opting to no longer use turbocharging as they had on the ]. Instead, a modified naturally aspirated version would be constructed, named the ]. At a larger 5.0 liters, the engine was able to overcome the loss of its turbocharging while still maintaining the benefits of the original ] design. For the R391, ] would decide to use a new version of the ], opting to no longer use turbocharging as they had on the ]. Instead, a modified naturally aspirated version would be constructed, named the ]. At a larger 5.0 liters, the engine was able to overcome the loss of its turbocharging while still maintaining the benefits of the original ] design.


==Race results== ==Race results==
⚫ ]
At the ], Nissan planned to enter two R391s along with a third ] C52 with the older VRH35L motor. In official testing for Le Mans in May, the R391s were able to set the 10th and 13th fastest times, beating out some entries from ], ], and ], although they were not able to beat ] or their main rival, ]. At the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nissan planned to enter two R391s along with a third ] C52 with the older VRH35L motor. In official testing for Le Mans in May, the R391s were able to set the 10th and 13th fastest times, beating out some entries from ], ], and ], although they were not able to beat ] or their main rival, ].


Come the actual race, Nissan was again quick, with one entry able to qualify 12th. Unfortunately, the other R391, while being driven by ], crashed during the first qualifying session, damaging the car beyond repair. Van de Poele also suffered a broken vertebra in the accident, but would be able to recover. Thus Nissan would be forced to race with only a single R391. Come the actual race, Nissan was again quick, with one entry able to qualify 12th. Unfortunately, the other R391, while being driven by ], crashed during the first qualifying session, damaging the car beyond repair. Van de Poele also suffered a broken vertebra in the accident, but would be able to recover. Thus Nissan would be forced to race with only a single R391.


During the race, the remaining R391 was able to climb its way up the field, running as high as 4th overall before an electrical problem in the engine caused the car to be retired after it had completed only 110 laps. Nissan's remaining entrant, their Courage chassis with the older Nissan turbo V8, was able to survive the race and finish a respectable 8th overall. However even this would be bested as ]'s entry, also using the older Nissan turbo V8, was able to finish 6th overall, eight laps ahead of Nissan's factory effort. During the race, the remaining R391 was able to climb its way up the field, running as high as 4th overall before an electrical problem<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nissan GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 To Tackle WEC And Le Mans In 2015: Video|url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1092285_nissan-gt-r-lm-nismo-lmp1-to-take-on-wec-and-le-mans-in-2015-video|access-date=2021-08-09|website=Motor Authority|language=en}}</ref> in the engine caused the car to be retired after it had completed only 110 laps.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nissan Legend Satoshi Motoyama Retires From Racing {{!}} dailysportscar.com|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/02/09/nissan-legend-satoshi-motoyama-retires-from-racing.html|access-date=2021-08-09|website=www.dailysportscar.com}}</ref> Nissan's remaining entrant, their Courage chassis with the older Nissan turbo V8, was able to survive the race and finish a respectable 8th overall. However even this would be bested as ]'s entry, also using the older Nissan turbo V8, was able to finish 6th overall, eight laps ahead of Nissan's factory effort.


Later in 1999 the R391 would race again, this time at the invitational ] event which was backed by the ] ruling body, the ] (ACO). The winners of this race would be able to earn automatic entries to the following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although the event was mostly made up of Japanese teams and thus lacked most major manufacturer teams, Nissan did still have competition from ], who brought out their ] which had beaten the R391 at Le Mans. Both teams entered a single car, but Nissan was able to come out on top, with the R391 defeating the GT-One by a single lap, earning Nissan bragging rights in sportscar racing in Japan. Later in 1999 the R391 would race again, this time at the invitational ] event which was backed by the ] ruling body, the ] (ACO). The winners of this race would be able to earn automatic entries to the following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although the event was mostly made up of Japanese teams and thus lacked most major manufacturer teams, Nissan did still have competition from ], who brought out their ] which had beaten the R391 at Le Mans. Both teams entered a single car, but Nissan was able to come out on top, with the R391 defeating the GT-One by a single lap, earning Nissan bragging rights in sportscar racing in Japan.


==Demise== ==Demise==
Although ] was able to gain automatic entry to the ] with their win at Fuji, ] officials decided that the motorsports program was no longer worth the cost, especially with ] attempting to restructure itself under new leader ]. With only a single victory for their sportscar program since 1995, it was decided that ] would immediately end the R391 project in early 2000, leaving ]'s only motorsports program to be in ]. ] would therefore turn down its automatic entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although ] was able to gain automatic entry to the ] with their win at Fuji, Nissan officials decided that the motorsports program was no longer worth the cost, especially with Nissan attempting to restructure itself under new leader ]. With only a single victory for their sportscar program since 1995, it was decided that Nissan would immediately end the R391 project in early 2000,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fuji 1000km 1999: The Toyota GT-One's final defeat|url=https://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/toyota-nissan-fuji-1000km-1999/4804286/|access-date=2021-08-09|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en}}</ref> leaving Nissan's only motorsports program to be in ]. Nissan would therefore turn down its automatic entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

] would not attempt to return to sportscar racing until 2005, when it experimented with the possibility of returning by supplying British sportscar team Rollcentre Racing with a modified turbocharged V6 for the ] as well as that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, the engine was not considered a success, and ] quickly pulled the plug on the program again.


== References ==
<references />
{{Nissan Sportscar Racers}} {{Nissan Sportscar Racers}}
⚫ ]

⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]

]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 20:21, 7 June 2023

Racing car model
Nissan R391
CategoryLe Mans Prototype
Designer(s)Nigel Stroud and Doug Skinner
PredecessorNissan R390 GT1
SuccessorNissan GT-R LM Nismo
Technical specifications
EngineNissan VRH50A 5.0L V8 Naturally Aspirated
Power650 hp (478 kW)
Competition history
Debut1999 24 Hours of Le Mans
First win1999 Le Mans Fuji 1000km
Last win1999 Le Mans Fuji 1000km
Last event1999 Le Mans Fuji 1000km
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
21100

The Nissan R391 is a prototype racing car built by Nissan and their motorsports counterpart Nismo for competition at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was a replacement for the R390 GT1, which was no longer legal in its production-based class.

History

Following Nissan's return to sportscar racing in 1995, motorsports division Nismo had been slowly climbing its way up the competition ladder to finally reach the top Le Mans prototype class. Starting with Skyline GT-R LMs in 1995, Nismo turned to developing the advanced R390 GT1 in 1997, which was effectively as close to a prototype as possible while still remaining street legal.

With major rule changes in the GT in 1999, major manufacturers were no longer able to build homologation specials which resembled prototypes more than true GT cars. Thus Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Panoz, BMW, and Audi turned to the prototypes class, either using open cockpit prototypes or closed cockpit cars which were actually evolutions of their former GT cars. Nissan, believing that a purpose built prototype would be superior to an evolved GT car, decided to go the route of an open cockpit.

Nissan turned to the UK based firm G-Force Technologies to design and build the R391. Nigel Stroud would head up the car's design alongside Doug Skinner as the chief designer and Glenn Elgood as the race team fabricator. Nissan also formed a partnership with a longtime customer of its second hand sportscars, Courage Compétition. As part of a deal between the two, Nissan would give VRH35L 3.5L turbocharged V8 motors (left over from the R390 GT1) to Courage for use on their own prototype, while Nissan would in return gain expertise from Courage for use on the R391. Nissan would also buy a Courage C52 chassis to run under their own team in order to have reliability in case the R391s suffered from mechanical gremlins, with the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans being their first race with the C52.

For the R391, Nissan would decide to use a new version of the VH engine, opting to no longer use turbocharging as they had on the VRH35L. Instead, a modified naturally aspirated version would be constructed, named the VRH50A. At a larger 5.0 liters, the engine was able to overcome the loss of its turbocharging while still maintaining the benefits of the original VRH35L design.

Race results

One of the Nissan R391s.

At the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nissan planned to enter two R391s along with a third Courage C52 with the older VRH35L motor. In official testing for Le Mans in May, the R391s were able to set the 10th and 13th fastest times, beating out some entries from Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW, although they were not able to beat Panoz or their main rival, Toyota.

Come the actual race, Nissan was again quick, with one entry able to qualify 12th. Unfortunately, the other R391, while being driven by Eric van de Poele, crashed during the first qualifying session, damaging the car beyond repair. Van de Poele also suffered a broken vertebra in the accident, but would be able to recover. Thus Nissan would be forced to race with only a single R391.

During the race, the remaining R391 was able to climb its way up the field, running as high as 4th overall before an electrical problem in the engine caused the car to be retired after it had completed only 110 laps. Nissan's remaining entrant, their Courage chassis with the older Nissan turbo V8, was able to survive the race and finish a respectable 8th overall. However even this would be bested as Courage Compétition's entry, also using the older Nissan turbo V8, was able to finish 6th overall, eight laps ahead of Nissan's factory effort.

Later in 1999 the R391 would race again, this time at the invitational Fuji 1000km event which was backed by the Le Mans ruling body, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The winners of this race would be able to earn automatic entries to the following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although the event was mostly made up of Japanese teams and thus lacked most major manufacturer teams, Nissan did still have competition from Toyota, who brought out their Toyota GT-One which had beaten the R391 at Le Mans. Both teams entered a single car, but Nissan was able to come out on top, with the R391 defeating the GT-One by a single lap, earning Nissan bragging rights in sportscar racing in Japan.

Demise

Although Nissan was able to gain automatic entry to the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans with their win at Fuji, Nissan officials decided that the motorsports program was no longer worth the cost, especially with Nissan attempting to restructure itself under new leader Carlos Ghosn. With only a single victory for their sportscar program since 1995, it was decided that Nissan would immediately end the R391 project in early 2000, leaving Nissan's only motorsports program to be in JGTC. Nissan would therefore turn down its automatic entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

References

  1. "Nissan GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 To Tackle WEC And Le Mans In 2015: Video". Motor Authority. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  2. "Nissan Legend Satoshi Motoyama Retires From Racing | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  3. "Fuji 1000km 1999: The Toyota GT-One's final defeat". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
Nissan sportscar racers (1966–present)
Group 6 (1965–1970)
Group 7 (1968–1970)
IMSA GTU (1975–1993)
IMSA GTO/IMSA GTS (1981–1995)
Group 5 (1979–1984)
Group C (1983–1992)
IMSA GTP (1985–1993)
JGTC / Super GT (1993–current)
FIA GT1 (1997–1998)
FIA GT1 / GT3 (2009–current)
Le Mans Prototype (1999, 2015)
Daytona Prototype International (2017–2019)
Experimental (2012–2014)
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