Nissan will not compete in the Le Mans 24hours sports car race in 2000. The company has come to the end of its three-year programme to compete with the R390/1 car at the classic French endurance motor race.

The company's best results came in 1998 when all four of Nissan cars finished the race in the top ten placings; the leading car taking third place.

"We compete in motorsport to win, not make up the numbers," explained Hajime Kawasaki, Senior Vice President, responsible for motorsport, "We are eager to return to the Le Mans but only when our resources will allow us to be fully competitive."