Nissan GT-R Nismo crashes at Nurburgring killing spectator, GT3 cars temporarily banned from track

Tragedy struck at the VLN endurance race on the Nurburgring Nordschleife over the weekend. Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 #23, piloted by 23-year-old British racing driver Jann Mardenborough, went airborne, hit the crash barrier and flipped over the safety fence into a group of spectators. One spectator has been pronounced dead, while several have been injured.

While the cause of the accident is investigated, Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (Germany’s auto racing governing body) has suspended SP7, SP8, SP8T, SP9, SP10, SP and SP-Pro-X racing vehicle classes from the track until further notice. These cover many GT3 and GT4 cars.

“The opening round of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nurburgring was marred by an accident on Saturday which injured several spectators. One of the spectators died, despite the immediate actions of the rescue crew in the medical centre at the circuit. The other injured spectators have been taken to hospital for ongoing medical care,” the VLN said in a statement.

“The VLN and the organisers are deeply saddened by the accident, and their thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.”

Nissan has also released a statement, saying that Mardenborough and two injured spectators have been released from hospital after completing a series of medical tests. It added that the crashed vehicle has been impounded by the German police and that Nissan is fully co-operating in the investigation.

“We are all deeply shocked and saddened and our immediate thoughts go to the deceased, those injured and their families and friends,” said Nissan.

Mardenborough, the son of ex-professional footballer Steve, was the 2011 winner of Nissan and Sony’s PlayStation-based GT Academy competition. The gamer-turned-racer proceeded to bag a podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours and this year, Nissan selected him to drive the GT-R LM Nismo prototype in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • dodgeviper88 on Mar 30, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    No matter how much precautions are taken the dangers of motorsport is very prevalent. RIP

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
  • carazy on Mar 30, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    I’m reckoned, too much down force at the back with the big spoiler, not enough in the front. Poor engineered race car resulted front lifts like an airplane wings.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 13
    • AVH (Member) on Mar 30, 2015 at 2:42 pm

      I reckon the same thing, I remembered back in the 90s, the Mercedes Benz CLR had the same problem on the Mulsanne Straight in Le Mans. Not enough frontal downforce, and the overly large rear diffuser and wing caused it to go airborn.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 6
    • 4G63T DSM on Mar 30, 2015 at 2:52 pm

      Not exactly.

      most cars by are actually shaped like a wing, where airflow over the top is quicker than the bottom. This creates lift by default.

      This lift is negated or counted by the wings which creates downforce, flat bottom and rear venturies which speed up airflow under the car to reduce lift.

      However, once the vehicle “catches some air”, the bottom venturies and wings loose its effect, and the vehicle takes off due to the net uplift that the body shape provides.

      There have been numerous such incidences, such as the Mercedes CTR from Le Mans 24hr 1999.

      RIP to the fans. The harsh reality of motorsports continue to bite.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 1
    • Sh*t happens, cars flipping over crests is not an uncommon thing in Motorsports, its something that nobody can stop.
      There are many different variables that could flip the car, it could even be a strong gust of wind.
      So quit trying to point fingers and put the blame on someone.
      “Poor engineering” what a very very silly thing to say, im sure you know a lot more about aerodynamics than a car manufacturer who have repeatedly invested millions and millions of dollars in making their cars faster.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 1
    • GT3 (Member) on Mar 30, 2015 at 9:55 pm

      Nope. The engineers surely has the front wing set up to match the downforce created by the rear wing. Do u really think they would put high downforce at the rear and miss out the calculation for front ones?
      In this case, it is because sudden absence of front downforce, as we can see there is slight slope before the car lifts.
      This is in relation to the flat underbody and front splitter. At the wrong time and wrong angle, the car would lift like this even without massive rear wing.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • It didn’t matter if you drive a perpectly engineered car, if the driver is a human the accident still occur.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 5
    • Obviously (Member) on Mar 30, 2015 at 2:54 pm

      By extension, the car is engineered by humans and they can make engineering errors too.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
  • Prominence on Mar 30, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3rxq7U1mA

    The Mercedes-Benz CLR case last time…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • superbird #43 on Mar 30, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    well, it ain’t a video game, son…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 8
  • karipap panas on Mar 30, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    wow!! GTR can fly now……

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • Jilbaber (Member) on Mar 30, 2015 at 8:30 pm

    Well..they don’t call the place ‘Green Hell’ for no reason…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Time 2 sue billions of dollars out from nismo on this casualty.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • choha on Mar 30, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    this is another reason to ban ‘motorsport’ once and for all………vehicles are not meant to be for entertainment

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 25
    • dac150r on Mar 30, 2015 at 10:51 pm

      Motorsport has been around since the invention of the car. Motorsport will never be banned because of dangers. Motorsport is one of the reasons cars are safer now.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 1
    • What a dull argument. Without competitive stage to showcase our breakthrough achievement in science and technology. you would only be riding bicycle now. Take F1 changes by year for example, or take smartphone by year for example, or even better, take PC extreme progressions by year for example.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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