Nissan R89C: Difference between revisions
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The '''Nissan R89C''' race car was developed by [[Nissan]] to participate in the Japan Sports Prototype Championship, although it also competed in the [[1989 24 Hours of Le Mans|1989 Le Mans 24 hour race]]. |
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{{Notability|Products|date=November 2019}} |
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{{Infobox automobile |
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| image = NISSAN R89C.jpg |
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| name = Nissan R89C |
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| manufacturer = [[Nissan]] |
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| production = 1989 |
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| predecessor = [[Nissan R88C]] |
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| successor = [[Nissan R90C]] |
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| class = [[Group C]] [[race car]] |
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| layout = [[MR layout]] |
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| engine = 3.5L ''[[Nissan VRH35 engine|VRH35]]'' DOHC twin-turbo V8<br>950 hp |
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| designer = [[Eric Broadley]] <small>(design concept)</small> <br> Andy Scriven <br> Clive Lark <br> Clive Cooper |
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}} |
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The '''Nissan R89C''' was a [[Group C]] [[sports prototype]] developed by [[Lola Cars]] for [[Nissan]]. |
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==Development== |
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Developed in conjunction with the British [[Lola Racing Cars]], the Kevlar and carbon-fibre based [[monocoque]] chassis featured a mid-mounted 3.5 litre V8 DOHC engine (3496 cc, 195 cid) along with twin turbochargers mounted directly into the chassis for better rigidity, which produced up to 950 [[Horsepower#Brake_horsepower|bhp]]. The chassis was built to replace the previous [[March]]-sourced design. The unit was encased in a distinctive body styling similar to that of a rectangular prism but with heavily rounded lines deriving from many hours spent in the wind tunnel. There were large intakes located below the canopy to allow air a smooth transition to the oil cooler and the essential [[turbo]] [[intercooler]]. Its rear wheels were concealed in spats, although a [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] racer ran without these rear wheel covers. |
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Replacing the original [[March Engineering|March]] built series of prototypes that Nissan had used, the R89C was part of Nissan's increased involvement in the project. Developed in conjunction with the [[Lola Cars|Lola]] firm, the R89C featured a Kevlar and carbon-fibre based [[monocoque]] chassis (named ''T89/10'' internally at Lola). Nissan's new twin-turbo [[Nissan VRH35 engine|VRH35]] 3.5L V8 [[DOHC]] engine was mounted in a stressed installation for better chassis rigidity and produced up to 950[[Horsepower#Brake horsepower|bhp]]. |
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Four chassis were built by Lola, two being entered in the [[1989 World Sportscar Championship season]] by Nissan Motorsport Europe (chassis #01 and #04) and two in the [[All Japan Sports Prototype Championship]] by Nissan Motorsport Japan (chassis #02 and #03). |
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British drivers [[Julian Bailey]] and [[Mark Blundell]] raced red-white-blue coloured number 24 in the JSPC, while two other similar racers sponsored by Yokogawa [[Hewlett-Packard]] and Calsonic joined the Nissan-sponsored auto. All cars featured factory backing by [[Nissan]] Motorsports International. The other two racers were numbered 24 and 25, the former being sponsored by YHP. All three prototypes possessed rear-mounted wings set low to reduce drag coefficiency, another tip learned at the wind tunnel. The top speed was said to reach the 250 mph mark (400km/h+) on most [[Group C]] racers, and the R89C was no exception. However, all three cars retired before the 18-hour mark, finishing 22nd (no. 25), 32nd (no. 23), and 55th (no. 24). |
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==Racing history== |
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{{Nissan}} |
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In the [[1989 World Sportscar Championship season]], Nissan struggled to solve not only reliability problems, but also to find pace from the new chassis and engine. As a result, the R89C was only able to score points in three races. Even though, it finished the season fifth in the team's championship. In the [[All Japan Sports Prototype Championship]], the R89C suffered the same fate, unable to compete with its developed [[Porsche]] and [[Toyota]] opponents, leaving Nissan to finish the season third in the championship. Meanwhile, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, three R89Cs were entered into the race. However, all three failed to finish the race due to mechanical problems. |
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For 1990, the R89C was campaigned by Nissan for the first race of the [[World Sportscar Championship]] until it was replaced by both the [[Nissan R90C|R90CK and R90CP]]. 2 R89Cs would be passed on to privateer teams, with [[Courage Compétition]] managing to finish 22nd in the [[1990 24 Hours of Le Mans]] with an ex-factory R89C (chassis #01). Chassis #03 was modified by Team Le Mans to become known as [[Nissan R90V|R90V]]. It ran JSPC with a best result of sixth before being retired. It also ran at Le Mans in 1990 retiring at about 7.00 AM. |
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R89C chassis #02 and #04 were rebuilt by Nissan Performance Technology Inc. as [[Nissan R90CP|R90CP]] for use by Nismo at Le Mans and in the All-Japan Sports-Prototype Championship in 1990. |
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== References == |
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<references /> |
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{{Nissan Sportscar Racers}} |
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{{Lola Sports Cars}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nissan R89c}} |
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[[Category:Lola racing cars]] |
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[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans race cars]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:34, 18 December 2024
 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines for products and services. (November 2019) |
| Nissan R89C | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Nissan |
| Production | 1989 |
| Designer | Eric Broadley (design concept) Andy Scriven Clive Lark Clive Cooper |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Group C race car |
| Layout | MR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.5L VRH35 DOHC twin-turbo V8 950 hp |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Nissan R88C |
| Successor | Nissan R90C |
The Nissan R89C was a Group C sports prototype developed by Lola Cars for Nissan.
Development
[edit]Replacing the original March built series of prototypes that Nissan had used, the R89C was part of Nissan's increased involvement in the project. Developed in conjunction with the Lola firm, the R89C featured a Kevlar and carbon-fibre based monocoque chassis (named T89/10 internally at Lola). Nissan's new twin-turbo VRH35 3.5L V8 DOHC engine was mounted in a stressed installation for better chassis rigidity and produced up to 950bhp.
Four chassis were built by Lola, two being entered in the 1989 World Sportscar Championship season by Nissan Motorsport Europe (chassis #01 and #04) and two in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship by Nissan Motorsport Japan (chassis #02 and #03).
Racing history
[edit]In the 1989 World Sportscar Championship season, Nissan struggled to solve not only reliability problems, but also to find pace from the new chassis and engine. As a result, the R89C was only able to score points in three races. Even though, it finished the season fifth in the team's championship. In the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, the R89C suffered the same fate, unable to compete with its developed Porsche and Toyota opponents, leaving Nissan to finish the season third in the championship. Meanwhile, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, three R89Cs were entered into the race. However, all three failed to finish the race due to mechanical problems.
For 1990, the R89C was campaigned by Nissan for the first race of the World Sportscar Championship until it was replaced by both the R90CK and R90CP. 2 R89Cs would be passed on to privateer teams, with Courage Compétition managing to finish 22nd in the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans with an ex-factory R89C (chassis #01). Chassis #03 was modified by Team Le Mans to become known as R90V. It ran JSPC with a best result of sixth before being retired. It also ran at Le Mans in 1990 retiring at about 7.00 AM.
R89C chassis #02 and #04 were rebuilt by Nissan Performance Technology Inc. as R90CP for use by Nismo at Le Mans and in the All-Japan Sports-Prototype Championship in 1990.
