NISSAN DELTAWING THRILLS LE MANS FANS DESPITE EARLY FINISH
Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 08:52PM 
The Nissan DeltaWing may be listed on the results sheet as a retirement, but after being forced out of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the revolutionary car has undoubtedly won the hearts and minds of fans throughout the world.
Six hours and 15 minutes into the race, the Nissan DeltaWing with Satoshi Motoyama behind the wheel was pushed off the road by the Toyota prototype of Kazuki Nakajima and suffered a hard impact into the wall on the exit of the Porsche Curves.
Motoyama worked for more than 90 minutes to try to repair the car to get it back to the pits but the damage to both the right rear and front of the car was too severe.
While the Nissan DeltaWing crew were able to offer advice, the driver is the only person permitted to work on the car while out on the course.
The retirement was a disappointing end for the unique car that was fighting its way back through the field after an early gearbox actuator issue.
Michael Krumm started the race aboard the machine that features half the weight, horsepower and aerodynamic drag of a typical Le Mans prototype.
The German spent nearly three and a half hours behind the wheel before handing over to Motoyama.
Sadly for the first man signed for the program and the driver tasked with developing the Nissan DeltaWing, Marino Franchitti, he did not get the chance to drive the car in the race.
Although the car had an early finish, it captivated the fan base here at Le Mans throughout the week and quickly became a crowd favorite.
Remarkably, the Nissan DeltaWing was completing 11 lap stints at LMP2 pace despite only having a 40 liter fuel tank and 300 horsepower.
The Nissan DeltaWing project featured an all-star combination of partners including concept originator Ben Bowlby; American Le Mans Series founder, Don Panoz; American racing legend and All American Racers founder, Dan Gurney; two-time ALMS championship-winning team owner, Duncan Dayton; concept patron and multiple Indy 500 and IndyCar championship winning team owner, Chip Ganassi; the world’s leading tire manufacturer, Michelin and innovative auto manufacturer Nissan.
SATOSHI MOTOYAMA
“When we went green I was trying to let the leaders by and not interfere with their race but the Toyota swung across and hit me very hard.
“Once I was on the grass there was nothing I could do. The Nissan DeltaWing was in the wall very hard but I was very determined to try to get the car back to the pits.
“The crew could give me instructions, but I am the only person who can touch the car. We tried for a long time to find a way to get the car back to the pits, but the damage was just too much.
“I had two great stints and was really enjoying my time in the car. We had a really long safety car period and I was really looking forward to finishing off my last stint.
“I have had such a great time driving this car and I’ve loved working with Marino, Michael and the entire time. We have really shown what the future of sportscar racing could look like – ultra efficient. I really hope I can get the opportunity to drive the car again, because we really do have unfinished business. I am certain the car would have run for a long time if not for the contact.”
MICHAEL KRUMM
“Satoshi was really having fun in the car and the Nissan DeltaWing was laying down some good lap times.
“On the restart he wanted to let the leaders through and got hit. Of course he is really disappointed to be taken out the race like this.
“He put in an incredible effort to try to fix the car. The things he did were really amazing.
“Unfortunately, there was just too much damage to try to bring the car back.
“It is a sad way to finish the race because the car was really running strong. I had a couple of issues at the start of my time in the car, but my last two stints were really strong and felt great.”
MARINO FRANCHITTI
“I am just devastated for everyone involved in the whole Nissan DeltaWing program.
“Of all the things to force us out of the race, being taken out of the race by somebody else is very tough to swallow.
“For me personally, having done all the testing of the car and then to not get to drive in the race is particularly hard, but I am very proud of the job the whole team has done.
“Michael did a great job at the start of the race and Satoshi continued that.
“The heart Satoshi showed in trying to repair the car and get it back to the pits was amazing.
“It has been absolute pleasure to drive when them and the entire team. I’m now looking to future and I hope there is one because there is so much potential in this car and so much love for it that it would be a shame if this was the end of the story.”
BEN BOWLBY
Nissan DeltaWing, Designer & Concept Originator
“First of all, the concept is proven. At the end of the day, the little Nissan DeltaWing weighing only 500 kilo, powered by the 300 horsepower Nissan DIG-T engine and using Michelin tires was able to run basically with half the fuel and tire consumption and yet show all of the speed of a typical Le Mans prototype.
“For all the fans who either loved it, or hated it, the journalists who wrote about and everyone who came to see it over the course of this weekend – we really appreciate everyone’s interest in the car.
“It has been a very emotional year and a very emotional end to the race.
“But at the end of the day – it really has been a huge success. These things happen in racing and nobody got hurt.
“We showed an extraordinary and unbelievable concept on the track at Le Mans and the ACO provided us with a perfect setting to showcase the car’s capabilities. Hats off to them for inviting us.
“It has been an incredible opportunity to showcase a car that is truly an innovative experiment.
“In the future lets hope we can bring it back as a race car, and not just an experimental vehicle. We’d love to see a future for cars of this type which are all about high efficiency, low drag, low drag and low consumption.”
DARREN COX
General Manager, Nissan in Europe
“That’s motorsport – we wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t understand the danger of this sort of thing happening. Initially, we were completely gutted but that feeling quickly gave way to a huge sense of pride in what we have achieved.
“There have been so many people involved in this astonishing project and, without each one of them, it would not have been possible. Everyone should celebrate the success that Nissan DeltaWing has been and feel pride in the impact it will have as a test bed for future innovations both on the road and track.
“We came here and a lot of people were not sure that this car would work but we have proven them wrong. The support for this campaign has been astounding and, from Nissan, we thank everyone who got behind us.
“I hope they continue to enjoy Le Mans weekend and all of the other activities that Nissan has brought to the 24 Hours this year.”
DON PANOZ
Managing Member, DeltaWing Racing Cars
“Everyone involved in the project has certainly ridden a roller-coaster of emotions today and I very proud of everyone involved.
“We knew getting to the finish with this car was going to be a very big task, but the Nissan DeltaWing was starting to run exceptionally well and it is just unfortunate that something like this could happen.
“Nobody wanted to give in – the guys fought hard to the finish and on behalf of the Nissan DeltaWing Project 56 partners, I’d just like to thank everyone for their efforts.
“What has been achieved in a very short space of time by everyone involved in the US, the UK and Japan really is quite remarkable.
“This is not the finish line, but just the start for DeltaWing Racing Cars – we’re looking forward to opportunities to further demonstrate what the future of highly efficient motorsport could look like.”
Reader Comments (13)
I think it's a tremendous accomplishment in engineering. Projects like this are why racing exists, and are essential to the automotive industries.
I am simply captivated with the concept of the DeltaWing and have nothing but congratulations for the entire team. Being an Aussie, an amateur racer and a Mechanical Engineer completely bored to death by the local V8 Supercar monotony the emergence of DeltaWing and the hybrid tech at LeMans maintains my excitement in motorsports. It appeared at one time that parity and dumbing down the technology was the future of motorsport with no real progress in F1, Indy, V8SC, NASCAR or other apex series so my hat goes off to the innovators in the endurance world. Keep up the great work and I'm looking forward to the future of DeltaWing.
Congratulations guys on what's proved to be a very well executed and very well thought concept. It's a shame you were taken out of the race that way, but you certainly showed great performance and lived up to your promises. Satoshi's heart really showed too, and I applaud that.
Maybe it was the only chance for the car to race, but I assure you it'll be remembered in the history books and the hearts of the fans as an absolute Le Mans milestone. Great job to everyone who made part of the Deltawing project!
Congratulations to the whole team. Such an achievement to even make it to the race, let alone run the pace you managed. So sad to be put out like that. Looking forward to seeing the DeltaWing again.
I was sad to see the car go out that way, but what you proved in 6+ hours should be considered a great victory. I hope in the near future a series will write a rulebook consisting only of a fuel consumption limit, maximum dimensions, safety specs, and perhaps a ban on really exotic materials to keep costs down. A series like that would be a great home to innovative ideas like yours, and the true pinnacle of motorsports.
Indy Cars wake up! You just lost Danica. The DeltaWing will fill your seats. All race fans look to an underdog to triumph. Just do it! (Woops, that's Nike, isn't it?)
Mahalo (thank you) DeltaWing for giving us old (pre-wing) race car fans a great interesting project to cheer for. I understand that Dan Gurney gave a telephone interview on the Speed TV Le Mans broadcast. Is there any way that you could post a sound link or transcription on this site? Congratulations to all of you for your wonderful accomplishment. Aloha,
The Toyota/Nakajima apology isn't on their own (Toyota) website!
My observation is that having the front wheels so close together has a negative impact on the cars cornering ability. It's the reason three wheeled ATVs were banned; it's an inherently unstable platform. Just MHO, I'm no engineer. Looks cool though.
The video showing Motoyama distraught, but still doing everything possible to get back into the race was very touching. I had a bad feeling about the Deltawing being bunched up in traffic after the restart from the safety car... Too bad Nakajima acted so rashly... I would have really enjoyed seeing the Deltwing go further. I tuned in specifically to watch the Deltawing! The car did great, and the reports from the drivers, that it's great to drive also add to the success of the effort. It has been fun following this concept, and seeing it make believers out of the doubters - including myself. So odd, yet so cool! I'd love to see a delta wing series or at least division- I'd watch! Great job, and I hope there is more to follow soon!
So, the Toyota driver, crashed out, inexplicably, the sensational, headline grabbing car. Now THAT's a surprise.
Somebody must have put a magnet under the Toyota's brake pedal, eh??
A very sad LeMans ending for the Deltawing. I hope you will continue its development. It is the first really fresh look at automotive race technology in many, many years. We were all cheering for you.
I must say, i love everything about the Delta Wing! The look is amazing but most of all its potential to bring some excitement back to racing is alone worth the continuation of the project. Don't be surprised to see Delta Wing knock-offs or technology in the near future. I hope Indy or another series wises up soon and takes full advantage of this ground breaking vehicle. I don't care, i just want to see it race!