The original plan was that Nissan would be revealing their 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 challenger next week. The Japanese manufacturer rented out Sebring Raceway from 5 December to 7 December, then there were reports that Nissan would take this opportunity to lift the lid on its return to world sportscar racing. However, it now appears as if Nissan have had a change of heart, and the original announcement has been postponed among rumours that the car is behind on development.
Shortly after cancelling the Sebring announcement, Nissan released an image that shows a Nissan factory driver’s crash helmet in front of a locker with an American Football shirt inside. The accompanying message reads “We’re Back – 02.01.2015” (2 February). The suggestion is that Nissan wants to make a splash with its comeback to prototype endurance racing and has come up with a different media strategy. The largest sporting event in the world, the Superbowl, is set to be held on 2 February and advertising slots during the broadcast are the most expensive in global TV advertising. Will Nissan use the Superbowl to unveil its brand-new GT-R LM Nismo to the world? If so, it would give Nissan, and the World Endurance Championship, priceless exposure to US television viewers.