Just Marketing International (JMI) issued a release today stating it was named Nissan’s “global motorsports agency of record,” charged with developing Nissan’s international motorsports line of attack. And while that news is anything but earth shattering, a tidbit in the text caught our eye.
The release says, “JMI will also develop and execute regional and global racing programs for the NISMO Leaf RC, a zero-emissions racing car based on the all-electric Nissan Leaf production model.” The Leaf RC concept debuted at the 2011 New York auto show, but this is the first semi-official confirmation that Nissan will, in fact, race it. The Leaf RC shares its name, battery pack, and electric motor with the production EV, but that’s about it. The two-door race car’s motor sits behind the driver and powers the rear wheels, while its carbon-fiber bodywork is 13.8 inches lower. At 2058 pounds, it’s about 40 percent lighter than the production car.
Neither Nissan nor JMI has announced any details on the potential Leaf RC racing series—venues (don’t count on any in the U.S.), race format, other participants, and how much it will cost are just a few of the unanswered questions at this point. But we fully expect to hear the distant whine of electric motors buzzing around a racing circuit in the near future, and we know races will be short: According to Nissan, the concept’s battery pack will provide around 20 minutes of racing time before needing a charge.
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