Genuine Nissan spearhead, Lucas Ordóñez will soon take a new direction in his professional driving career. For his third participation at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the young Madrid native will drive the ZEOD RC whose technical specs caused it to be named a "technologically innovative car". In addition to taking control of this unconventional automobile, this new experience in La Sarthe will undertaken as a Nissan project development driver. A nice reward in the continuation of an exemplary career.

In 2008, then 23 years of age, Ordoñez played with a certain dexterity the video game Gran Turismo. Among the fastest online players in Spain, he won the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy after five days of intensive training in real cars at the Silverstone circuit. In a few weeks, Ordoñez replaced his controller for a carbon steering wheel, then, with an international race license in hand, he competed in the GT4 European cup for two seasons. He then made his first appearance at the 24 Hours in 2011 at the wheel of Signatech team's Oreca 03-Nissan. Such an unbelievable ascent, Ordoñez finished second in the LM P2 class only three years after having first driven a race car.

In 2012 and 2013, he joined the ranks of Greaves Motorsport and drove a Zytek Z11SN- Nissan, last year achieving a new podium finish in the LM P2 class alongside Michael Krumm and Jann Mardenborough. This year, for its official return in La Sarthe, Nissan has given him the determinant position of development driver. Ordoñez will have the heavy but honourable task of driving (along with Wolfgang Reip and Satoshi Motoyama) the car that will represent to everyone the Japanese manufacturer's great return at the 24 Hours. The goal is short and sweet: complete a circuit lap without burning any fuel particles whatsoever. A historic challenge that meets the heightened level of a young man more determined than ever. At a time when Nissan is already preparing its return in the LM P1 class next season, 15 years after the arrival of the R391s, this year's step could be a springboard toward a lead driver position. We shall find out in the near future...

Pierre-Yves Riom / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, JUNE 20 2013, PRACTICES. Lucas Ordóñez at the wheel of Greaves Motorsport team's Zytek Z11SN–Nissan. The Spaniard would finish third in the LM P2 class.