Nismo and Williams F1 to make road cars

Nissan has released details of a collaboration between its performance arm, Nismo, and Formula One team Williams F1. Nissan will take advantage of Williams' expertise in aerodynamics, simulation and material science in order to build more Nismo branded models.

Nismo president, Shoichi Miyatani, said: 'Williams has a proven history of making racing technology benefit road cars, and we look forward to starting this relationship during a period of intensive product development for Nismo.'

Williams F1 boss, Sir Frank Williams, added: 'Both parties share a passion for racing and cutting-edge technology and this collaboration will see us work closely together to develop cars that will be at the forefront of automotive technology.'

This isn't the first time Williams has lent its name to a road-going model. The Renault Clio Williams of 1993 used the F1 team's name in reference to the Renault powered Williams F1 car of the same year. However, Williams wasn't involved in the engineering of that car.

More recently, Williams aided Jaguar with the hybrid technology and aerodynamics behind the C-X75 concept.

By James Lewis-Barned