Category: Nissan

We bring you another belated Le Mans catch up, this time featuring the doomed Nissan DeltaWing. The car itself ran pretty well, it was the tap from the #7 Toyota TS030 that ultimately ended the DeltaWing’s race.

After crashing into the wall, driver Satoshi Motoyama tried valiantly for an hour and a half to repair the experimental car so that he could drive it back to the pits for a more intensive repair effort. Alas, the DeltaWing was too damaged and had to withdraw.

The sad and somehow lonely video of Motoyama with the wrecked DeltaWing will become one of the lasting memories from the 2012 endurance epic.

Despite the sad ending to his day Motoyama remained positive about his race experience and also about the future of the DeltaWing: “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.”

There’s more from Nissan and Highcroft Racing after the break, including a healthy selection of images of the DeltaWing in action.

With the 80th running of the celebrated 24 Hours of Le Mans race to take place this weekend the major players are sending out their official previews; sharing their line ups, hopes and expectations.

First we bring you Nissan’s run down. Of course grabbing the headlines here is the DeltaWing, the failed IndyCar submission, now Le Mans prototype racer. The DeltaWing will be driven by Michael Krumm, Satoshi Motoyama and Marino Franchitti.

But there’s more to Nissan at Le Mans in 2012 than the DeltaWing curiosity. They proudly boast over 25% of the field will be powered by Nissan engines. Paul Willcox, Senior Vice President, Nissan in Europe, can barely contain his enthusiasm!

“The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours will be Nissan’s biggest yet—everything we are doing at La Sarthe this year illustrates how Nissan is the boldest, most innovative manufacturer,” Wilcox proclaimed.

“On-track, Nissan will be the story of the race—the radical Nissan DeltaWing, as an experimental concept, harks back to the original motor racing trailblazers of the 1920s who first set out to go as fast as possible for as long as possible. Those pioneers changed the face of motorsport and, while we can’t win with the Nissan DeltaWing because it sits outside the regulations, we can’t lose either—the huge strides it will help us make in terms of future motorsport and road car innovations means Nissan has won before the race even starts.”

Social networkers can follow the exploits of Nissan this weekend via Facebook and twitter.

You can read the full spiel from Nissan after the break.