After a huge crash involving one of Toyota’s LMP1 cars and a GTE-class Ferrari, the safety car was deployed at the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours while marshals cleared the debris. Around 9pm, the safety car returned to the pits and the race continued. With all the cars in such close proximity, the Nissan DeltaWing got bumped off the track and collided with the wall in an area of the track that did not offer protection by way of tyre barriers. The collision damaged the right side of the car as well suspension and steering parts.
During a subsequent media conference Darren Cox, general manager at Nissan Europe, shared with us how DeltaWing racer Motoyama – who was behind the wheel at the time – tried for an hour and half to determine the damage of the car using his own knowledge and one of Nissan’s photographers who showed the mechanics pictures of the damage. It is a sad end, but nevertheless a heroic effort for all who was involved in this project.
When asked about the future plans for the DeltaWing, Ben Bowlby, the DeltaWing’s concept originator and designer, couldn’t give us a definite answer. The resources of the financial stakeholders and the possibility of building a DeltaWing that will officially be allowed to race in a motorsport series are all factors they will have to consider before reaching a decision. As a project that Bowlby started in 2008, we can’t imagine that he, or Nissan, could discontinue a project that's thrilled motorsport enthusiasts around the world – Batman included.
Click here to watch the arrival of Nissan and the DeltaWing at Le Mans, and here for more news and history on this race car.