Nissan's Le Mans 24 Hours newcomers to drive LMP3 car at test day

Max Chilton, Alex Buncombe and Tsugio Matsuda will undertake the 10 laps of the Circuit de la Sarthe necessary to qualify to take part at Le Mans aboard a Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 during the May 31 test.

Nissan global motorsport manager Darren Cox explained that the plan was to focus on finetuning the three front-engined GT-R LM NISMOs with a small group of drivers, including Michael Krumm, Olivier Pla and Harry Tincknell.

"We will have plenty to be getting on with at the test, so we don't want the distraction of putting them in the LMP1 cars to do their laps," he told AUTOSPORT.

"It will also give them plenty of time to acclimatise at a reasonable speed around the circuit."

Le Mans rules do not preclude Chilton, Buncombe and Matsuda driving the LMP1 car in addition to the LMP3.

Ginetta's in-house squad will field two cars at the test day, as it does in the European Le Mans Series.

The drivers of the second car will included Nissan-backed cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, who will get his first experienced of the Le Mans track ahead of a scheduled debut in the 24 Hours next year.