Zytek Z11SN

Lore & Background

For 2011, Le Mans Prototype rules were changed to reduce costs, making the Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S obsolete and reclassifying the Zytek 09SC from LMP2 to LMP1. Zytek developed the Z11SN and signed a deal with NISMO to use the Nissan GT-R Super GT's Nissan VK45DE engine, a 4.5-litre naturally-aspirated V8. Greaves Motorsport were the only team to enter a Z11SN in its first season, using a chassis originally a Zytek 07S. The car debuted with a class victory at the 6 Hours of Castellet, driven by Karim Ojjeh, Gary Chalandon and Tom Kimber-Smith. Greaves took the class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the LMP2 Team's Championship in the Le Mans Series that year. At season's end, that chassis was retired and three new ones were built.

In 2012, Jota Sport entered a Z11SN in the European Le Mans Series, while Greaves Motorsport bought two chassis. Both teams entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans; Greaves' No. 42 car, driven by Martin Brundle, his son Alex, and Lucas Ordóñez, finished eighth in class, while the other Greaves car finished fifth. Greaves finished third in the ELMS that year. In 2013, Jota Sport won the 6 Hours of Silverstone. Caterham Motorsport entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time using a Z11SN in a joint venture with Greaves, while Greaves and Jota also entered. Greaves' entry finished fourth in LMP2. In 2014, Jota Sport won the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with their Z11SN.

For 2015, following Zytek's rebranding to Gibson Technology after purchase by Continental AG, the Z11SN was substantially developed as the Gibson 015S. Jota Sport used it to finish second in LMP2 at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2016, Strakka Racing finished fourth in LMP2 and eighth overall at Le Mans with the Gibson 015S, the highest result for the prototype in that race.

Reader's Guide

The Zytek Z11SN was significant as a direct response to the 2011 Le Mans Prototype regulation changes aimed at cost reduction. Its development from the Zytek 07S and 09SC allowed it to compete effectively in the LMP2 class, and its partnership with NISMO provided a reliable Nissan V8 engine. The car's immediate success in 2011, winning both the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the European Le Mans Series team championship, established it as a competitive platform. Over subsequent seasons, it remained a consistent contender, with Jota Sport's 2014 Le Mans class victory further cementing its legacy. The car's evolution into the Gibson 015S after Zytek's rebranding extended its lifespan, with the Gibson 015S achieving its highest Le Mans result in 2016. The Z11SN's history is marked by its use by multiple teams—Greaves Motorsport, Jota Sport, and Caterham Motorsport—and its role in providing a competitive LMP2 entry for both privateers and manufacturer-linked efforts.