Ordoñez Helps DeltaWing to 5th Place Finish at Petit Le Mans
In yet another career milestone for GT Academy champion Lucas Ordoñez, he helped drive the radical Highcroft Racing Nissan DeltaWing prototype to an incredible 5th place overall finish at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans.
Running unclassified as an invitational entry for the final round of the American Le Mans Series, the DeltaWing team were forced to start off the back of the grid and subsequently lost additional track position by missing out on a number safety car “wave arounds” throughout the race.
The unique 1.6 liter Nissan DIG-T turbochaged-powered machine eventually crossed the line three laps down from the P2 class winning car.
Jeannette started the race for the Nissan DeltaWing squad and immediately began a charge through the pack – passing eight cars on the opening lap.
By the time he handed over to Ordoñez, the No. 0 car had moved up to eigth position out of the 42 car field. The Spaniard took over and completed a triple stint – handing back to Jeannette from third place overall.
The Michelin tire-equipped Nissan DeltaWing continued to show incredible endurance when Jeannette returned to the wheel – this time completing a quadruple stint without changing tires.
Ordoñez took over for the final 110 laps – bringing the car across the line in sixth place. The team gained a further position after the checkered flag when a P2 car was excluded due to a driver exceeding the maximum drive time permitted.
Today’s performance was made even more remarkably considering the team had to completely rebuild the car on Wednesday after Jeannette was forced into a dramatic roll-over in testing when he was struck by a GTC-class Porsche.
Congratulations to Lucas and the DeltaWing team on a great result!
Photography by Josh Koropchak.
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Newest comments are displayed first.
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October 26th, 2012 at 2:51 am - #joetruckv8
I just saw the tape last night, that Delta Wing was flying around Road Atlanta!
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October 24th, 2012 at 8:55 am - #HarVee
What happened to the driver of that Porsche that hit the DeltaWing during the practice run? Anyone know?
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October 23rd, 2012 at 11:42 pm - #Rushton1996
Well done to the Nissan DeltaWing team and Lucas. But I have noticed recently that there is absolutely no interesting news for the Gran Turismo game. It’s kind of boring. *sigh
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October 23rd, 2012 at 5:46 pm - #Rynogtr23
It would’ve been appreciated if there was some mention of lap times in this post or future posts.What kind of lap times was the delta wing achieving & how did it compare to the 1st thru 4th place overall winner?
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October 23rd, 2012 at 4:28 pm - #JTSnooks
No pictures of Lucas wearing a Batman costume during pictures? I’ve got some if you’d like me to post/email them somewhere.
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October 23rd, 2012 at 5:58 am - #05XR8
With NISSAN in V8s next year, Wonder if we’ll see GTAcademy at one of the enduros.
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October 23rd, 2012 at 1:12 am - #tpark103
I’m so suprised that haters like AMAC500 have yet to leave a post on this positive weekend…
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October 23rd, 2012 at 5:56 am - #sangdude82
May be he’s gone for a holiday :)
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October 22nd, 2012 at 9:04 pm - #dirtbiker535
Did anyone else like the paint scheme on the abslut vodka 458?
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October 22nd, 2012 at 6:14 pm - #Canis
Seriously that car is ridiculous looking…
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October 22nd, 2012 at 10:52 am - #TurboProp
I see they painted the mirrors and the top fairings bright red so the Porsche’s could see it, still needs the bicycle flag on it to help see it in traffic…
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October 22nd, 2012 at 10:21 am - #fordskydog
So, more races this year? Next year? ………. PLEASE?
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October 22nd, 2012 at 8:24 am - #JackC8
Cool car. Probably have to buy Forza if I want to drive it I suppose.
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October 22nd, 2012 at 10:16 am - #Pit Crew
^ This statement makes no sense. Is Forza supposed to be pursuing a deal with NISSAN to implement the Delta Wing in future Forza titles?
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October 22nd, 2012 at 6:47 pm - #Quakebass
It’s because PD is hardly putting out any content (for good reason, albeit), and T10′s getting a crap ton done. I’m actually thinking at this rate they may get the new NSX in one of their games before PD does, unless PD’s done some sort of exclusive license on it like EA with Porsche.
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October 23rd, 2012 at 5:49 pm - #Pit Crew
^ Doubtful T10s business relations with NISSAN are better than PDs to the point Forza would get the DeltaWing before a GT title.
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October 24th, 2012 at 5:54 am - #Youngun
^ But it would help if nissan owned the Deltawing…….Which they don’t
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October 24th, 2012 at 5:29 pm - #Pit Crew
True the car is Owned by Chip Ganassi, but NISSAN is part of the inner circle, PD has way better shot then T10.
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October 22nd, 2012 at 8:15 am - #Blood*Specter
Oh yeah, lets not forget GT1 class (This is what the Game should be about)
Please Kaz?
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October 22nd, 2012 at 3:57 pm - #Coltenfutbol16
Who uses bing? ;)
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October 21st, 2012 at 11:46 pm - #maxpontiac
The legend of Gran Turismo continues..
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October 22nd, 2012 at 3:25 am - #forzaturismo
REALLY???????….
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October 21st, 2012 at 11:26 pm - #GTP_Versatile
I’m still surprised how that thing turns
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October 21st, 2012 at 10:09 pm - #HuskyGT
That thing must be so fun to drive. The more I see it, the more I like it.
Hopefully in GT6.
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October 21st, 2012 at 9:36 pm - #Mac K
Lovely pictures. Glad to see the Deltawing finish, and Lucas did very well. Congrats.
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October 21st, 2012 at 9:34 pm - #tpark103
5th place overall is pretty impressive. What an amazing machine, driver, and team.
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October 21st, 2012 at 7:08 pm - #Veyron Tony
I just watched the race and I was wanting more coverage. Great performance, maybe we could get a DLC, it is a Nissan after all, can`t get enough of those… lol
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October 21st, 2012 at 8:08 pm - #TomBrady
You know this is the one nissan I truly would want besides a premium upgrade of the R390 Road car (amazing car and cool interior). The delta wing is so unique and probably would be heaps of fun to drive, it’s so different. The only race cars I want more at this point is the Lotus 49, and Senna’s 1988 Mp4/4 (or his lotus 98t from 86). BTW I like your name, my most wanted car for GT5 overall right now is the Veyron Supersport, I don’t think it’s gonna happen because PD are douche faces. Veyron should’ve been premium from the start
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October 21st, 2012 at 8:34 pm - #gamerdog6482
PD aren’t doushefaces, and Kaz wanted the Bugatti to be premium.
Jordan had an interview with him about it. -
October 21st, 2012 at 9:12 pm - #HarVee
^ Well if Kazunori wanted the car premium, why wasn’t it then?
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October 21st, 2012 at 9:58 pm - #sumbrownkid
@Harvee.
Perhaps they were pressed for time? Or they ran into scheduling conflicts? Or budgetary constraints (unlikely).
Making a game is not as easy as Forza seems to make it bro.
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October 22nd, 2012 at 3:26 am - #forzaturismo
personaly i ll prefer AUDI,MERCEDES AND BMW DTM 2012 CARS!!!!!!!
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October 22nd, 2012 at 6:21 am - #Youngun
Its not Nissan, there more a sponsor than the manufacturer
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October 22nd, 2012 at 7:49 am - #ManiacRS
@youngun:
They’re as much a manufacturer as Audi is with their Team Joest prepared and run car, or Toyota with their Lola prepared (I think) chassis…
Real world motorsport is a big business and it is a lot more complicated most people think…
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October 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 am - #HarVee
@sumbrownkid
PD had 5 years to develop the game. Pressed for time? No. Lack of proper planning and organization, probably.
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GTPlanet on Google+
It should be in GT5 already, otherwise I don’t really care about it…
..