Evija crash at Goodwood - a pole

[mik]

Incident already mentioned on here, but I've seen quite a lot of heated exchanges on X/twatter over the weekend as people argue over what caused it. There seem to be two distinct camps with very little inbetween.

A/ Software issue (as stated by HarryM in this clip). The car just crashed itself as it hasn't been developed properly. And they are going to sell these to the public? Clearly 2000bhp is simply "too powerful for even pro drivers". Well I shan't be buying such a death trap etc.

2/ Driver error. Traction and other systems clearly all turned off to facilitate smokey "light up all four wheels - look at us" start-line shenanigans (driver decision, or possibly instructed to do so by Lotus) which can be very tricky to sustain. Car not pointed perfectly straight when this action is initiated (or kicks very slightly not-straight at the very start) - when correcting the intended direction of travel one wheel finds grip for whatever reason and spits car round like that <clicks fingers>

[V8Granite]

It looked like the front left just got grip and shoved it over. There didn’t seem to be much the driver would be able to in in such a short space of time. It wasn’t where he had full lock to keep it straight or anything, it just buggered off.

Dave!

[mik]

Forgot to say - this was the statement by Lotus after the event. Those in camp A have generally stated that it's a fib / cover-up etc.

"Following a formal evaluation by both Goodwood and Lotus, asymmetric grip caused by overcorrection during rapid acceleration at the start line was determined to be the cause. [The] Driver was unharmed in the incident and there was minimal damage to the car"

[Mito Man]

I was surprised that Harry instantly said it's a software bug. I do believe this explanation which makes total sense
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/event-cove ... -of-speed/

"Before that fateful second run, however, the build-up was stifled by a stalled Solus GT, which meant the Evija X had to circumvent the stationary car in order to line up, at a slight angle, on the Start Line.

That didn’t stop the driver from fully committing when given the signal to go. Data traces show that they immediately jumped to 100 per cent torque demand from all four of its electric motors. That’s an instant injection of 1,704Nm (1,257lb ft), not limited by a rev limiter, which within a few metres had spun the rear wheels up to 170mph and the fronts to 150mph. The resulting burnout was quite something, while it lasted.

The reason it didn’t last was quite a simple one. The driver unfortunately lost control. The Evija X is capable of reaching a top speed of 240mph, and the energy involved in that power delivery was simply too extreme. As the driver begun to lift off the throttle to try and search for some traction, the balance of the car shifted and pitched it into the bales. In total, the incident from the start to the impact was about 1.5 seconds. The driver was unfortunately unable to maintain control."

[Beany]

too extreme

Well, we know what Foz is selling his LOLtus for....

[Jobbo]

Forgot to say - this was the statement by Lotus after the event. Those in camp A have generally stated that it's a fib / cover-up etc.

"Following a formal evaluation by both Goodwood and Lotus, asymmetric grip caused by overcorrection during rapid acceleration at the start line was determined to be the cause. [The] Driver was unharmed in the incident and there was minimal damage to the car"

The 'minimal damage' statement looks like a fib - you can see both ends of the car hit the bales and the front left wheel is pushed back quite a bit.#

The driver still seems to be on the power as he's smacking the front into the bales, looking at the rear wheels spinning.

Regarding overcorrection, there doesn't seem to be any steering input at all at the very moment the rear steps out. Watching on a PC stepping through the frames (, and . for those who like me weren't aware of the key presses to do this) at about 32s into that video.

[Ascender]

How much correction could your average test driver (not meant to be a dig) do in a car like that if it snaps when you've got your foot to the floor and zero physical room for any error?

[Marv]

Evija crash at Goodwood - a pole

Didn't it hit a hay stack?

[NGRhodes]

How much correction could your average test driver (not meant to be a dig) do in a car like that if it snaps when you've got your foot to the floor and zero physical room for any error?

And it's not just steering correction needed, but also a lot of throttle correction - the driver needs to get the spinning wheels to rotate at a similiar enough speed to road speed in a short enough time to regain traction, otherwise no amount of steering correction will prevent a slide turning into a spin.

[mik]

Evija crash at Goodwood - a pole

Didn't it hit a hay stack?

You’re thinking of Big Daddy.

[Mito Man]

On the topic of overpowered cars which even professionals struggle to control. Christian Horner gleefully explained that the new RB17 would be a struggle even for Verstappen to handle. Which makes me think what is the point!?
So that makes it suitable for exactly 0 people on this planet.

[Zonda_]

On the topic of overpowered cars which even professionals struggle to control. Christian Horner gleefully explained that the new RB17 would be a struggle even for Verstappen to handle. Which makes me think what is the point!?
So that makes it suitable for exactly 0 people on this planet.

Like any of them will be driven anyway?

[integrale_evo]

I’m sure the cars software is very complex and has had a lot of development, but at the same time you would assume that motor on each wheel drive systems are working like open diffs and so when they lose and gain traction at different points depending on countless factors it needs to react very quickly to sort it out. The cleverest systems in the world can’t cancel physics and there’s an awful lot of energy in 4 motors / wheels / tyres spinning at 150+ mph on the spot.

[RobYob]

Lotus/Williams bodging something that results on an exit stage left more than likely in my mind.

[V8Granite]

I’m sure the cars software is very complex and has had a lot of development, but at the same time you would assume that motor on each wheel drive systems are working like open diffs and so when they lose and gain traction at different points depending on countless factors it needs to react very quickly to sort it out. The cleverest systems in the world can’t cancel physics and there’s an awful lot of energy in 4 motors / wheels / tyres spinning at 150+ mph on the spot.

Good point, I remember talking to a guy developing a crop sprayer and he said the traction control (they called it something different) on a hydraulicly driven vehicle was a huge job as the oil pressure just wants to go the path of least resistance.

Dave!

[mik]

I’m sure the cars software is very complex and has had a lot of development, but at the same time you would assume that motor on each wheel drive systems are working like open diffs and so when they lose and gain traction at different points depending on countless factors it needs to react very quickly to sort it out.

Fully agree, but I don't believe this is any programmed mode at all, as I can't think what use any owner would have for it? It's definitely not a remotely efficient or tyre-friendly way to launch quickly. The development drivers will know well that it will easily set all four wheels spinning madly with resultant plumes of smoke if the electronics aren't keeping everything in check, and I'm sure it's quite amusing to play with this power excess - almost certainly on wider areas, and very likely on completely flat tracks/surfaces.

I suspect that someone (Lotus bosses, or the driver (Gavin Kershaw?)) decided that switching everything off to allow them to do this on the Goodwood start-line would create a great spectacle. Space is quite tight but I assume they considered that acceptable. I am not sure if they recognised that the Goodwood start line has a notable crown in the road, and fully considered the risks that might present?

Via the slo-mo shot looking front-on (and using Jobbo's frame-by-frame technique - didn't know about that previously ) you can see the car's weight shifting around - I think that via this "bobbing", and launching at a slight angle on a road with a pronounced crown (in a car running quite a lot of camber), one of left tyres simply found more grip momentarily and spat the car off.

I therefore voted "driver error" but maybe I should have also included an option for "foolhardy "watch this" start mode choice".

[Explosive Newt]

I therefore voted "driver error" but maybe I should have also included an option for "foolhardy "watch this" start mode choice".

I think this is the answer - driver error in a car which leaves very little room for error, possibly due to being underdeveloped and over powered, probably due to wilful deactivation of safety systems.

[Beany]

I therefore voted "driver error" but maybe I should have also included an option for "foolhardy "watch this" start mode choice".

I think this is the answer - driver error in a car which leaves very little room for error, possibly due to being underdeveloped and over powered, probably due to wilful deactivation of safety systems.

...probably due to PR wanting to do something showy and cool...

[integrale_evo]

Having never driven a 2000bhp instant torque, motor on each wheel EV…

I can imagine you don’t get the same noise / vibration clues to how fast the wheels are spinning that you do on a full mash it and drop the clutch launch in something with a normal engine and gearbox, where unless you’re changing gear through the burnout, your wheel speed is likely to be limited to maybe 60mph bouncing off the rev limiter.