DeltaWing returns for Petit Le Mans

The DeltaWing will return to action at the American Le Mans Series season finale, Petit Le Mans, next month.

The Nissan-powered machine made its debut at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and although it only lasted six hours before being forced off track by a faster prototype, it was an extremely popular addition.

It will now take part in the 1000 mile/ten-hour race at Road Atlanta on 20 October, and could race in the ALMS in 2013 as well as the new championship that will be created in 2014 after the merger of ALMS and Grand-Am.

The car will be driven at Petit Le Mans by Lucas Ordonez, the first winner of Nissan’s GT Academy, and Gunnar Jeannette, 2011’s American Le Mans Series LMPC champion. The trio of Satoshi Motoyama, Marino Franchitti and Michael Krumm who drove at Le Mans are all unavailable due to existing commitments.

“Le Mans was a huge success for us,” said Darren Cox of Nissan. “The car did everything we wanted it to do and more, proving that the pioneering technology we were testing in the world's most public laboratory works and is a viable option for the future sustainability of motorsport. The only thing that didn't go our way was the way the race ended for us, which was entirely out of our control. Because we'd proven the technology worked, it was hard to be too disappointed, but we were blown away by the level of support and goodwill that came our way from the fans so now we feel we owe it to them to race again.”

ALMS founder and DeltaWing partner Don Panoz said: “The DeltaWing can race in the 2013 American Le Mans Series and it is part of the merger agreement for ALMS and Grand-Am. Safety and performance standards have to be achieved, but it needs to be reviewed. For 2014, the new series would incorporate Daytona prototypes, Le Mans prototypes, and maybe even a DeltaWing.”

Watch LIVE American Le Mans Series action on Motors TV.

Peter Allen