By alley - Oct 19, 2014, 1:02 PM ET

Report: Nissan P1 set to begin testing

French website

endurance-info.com

reports that Nissan's LMP1 prototype – which will join Audi, Toyota and Porsche in the ranks of manufacturer teams in the top class of the World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans next year – is set to begin testing shortly at Nissan's North American technical center in Stanfield, Ariz. The facility, located 50 miles south of Phoenix, features a 5.7-mile high-speed oval and four separate road course layouts.

Nissan has been tight-lipped about the specifications of its "GT-R LM Nismo," which is expected to be officially unveiled in early December. Endurance-info.com claims that the GT-R LM Nismo will differ from its P1 competitors in being front- rather than rear-engined, and will be powered by a gasoline-fueled twin-turbo V6. The car has been designed and built in the U.S., and the team is based in Indianapolis at the race shop formerly occupied by the Forsythe Racing Champ Car squad.

No drivers have yet been confirmed for the works program, although Nissan said at its announcement back in May that it intended to draw on its Nissan GT Academy talent-grooming program, so Jann Mardenborough and Lucas Ordonez are likely to be high on the short list alongside the top drivers for Nissan in the Japanese Super GT series. Another intriguing possibility could be Formula 1 ace Jenson Button, who reportedly is eying prospects in the WEC if he is unable to secure a top drive in F1 for next year.