The opening round of the Le Mans Series (LMS) took place on Sunday, April 3rd at Paul Ricard Circuit in France (1 lap: 5.791kms), where the NISSAN-powered #41 Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN car took its first win with the NISMO LMP2 engine in the LMP2 class. The result also meant a third-place finish overall. The NISMO LMP2 engine is an evolution of the VK45DE which was originally developed for GT500 cars in the Japanese SUPER GT series, and debuted this season. It was the unit's first victory on only its second outing, after taking second place in the opening round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC), the Sebring 12 hour race.

A total of nine cars were entered in the LMP2 class for the first LMS event, and three of those, the #41 Zytek Z11SN NISSAN (Greaves Motorsport), #45 Oreca 03 NISSAN (Boutsen Energy Racing) and #46 Oreca 03 NISSAN (TDS Racing) used the NISMO engine. In qualifying, held on the day prior to the race, the trio of machines powered by the NISMO VK45DE locked out the top three spots, the #46 leading the #45 and #41 machines. The speed of the NISMO engine was on full display. In the race, an intense, class-leading duel developed among the three class-leading LMP2 NISMO-engined cars just seconds after the start. A margin of 1-2 seconds per lap was immediately built up over the other cars.

Though other competitor led temporarily, with one and a half hours remaining in the six-hour race, the top spot in the LMP2 class was recaptured by the #41 Zytek NISSAN, and brought the first victory for the NISMO LMP2 engine as it took the chequered flag ahead of its rivals.

The next round of the ILMC/LMS takes place on Saturday, May 7th at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.