Both Delta cars destroyed by fire

Special ONE Racing’s two Delta Evo-e RXs caught fire in the paddock at Lydden Hill on Friday. No injuries were reported. An investigation is underway to determine the origin of the fire.

The Special ONE Racing team was present this weekend at the Lydden Hill circuit in Kent, England, where the fourth round of the World Rallycross Championship was being held. On Friday 21 July, just before 8.45am, a fire broke out in the number 9 car normally driven by Sébastien Loeb. The fire quickly spread to Guerlain Chicherit’s number 36 car and then to one of the team’s two workshop trucks. None of the three vehicles could be saved from the flames despite the intervention of the fire brigade. The scene was quickly evacuated, and no-one was injured.

An investigation has been launched by the FIA to determine the origin of the fire, which broke out while no-one was physically working on the car, but during the electrical recharging of the propulsion system, which had been underway for several minutes. At this stage, we can already state that no handling errors were made by the staff of the Special ONE Racing team, nor by those of its partners.

Without its two cars and a large part of its equipment, Special ONE Racing will not be able to enter in the last four rounds of the 2023 World Rallycross Championship season. For the moment, the team would like to thank all those who have sent messages of encouragement since Friday, and more generally since the start of the adventure in April. We’re proud of the response to our two magnificent Delta Evo-e RXs, of which all that remains today are photos and videos.

After the fire that broke out under the structure housing our two cars, the first essential piece of news was that no member of the team was injured. My thoughts go out to all the men and women who have worked or are working on this project with such determination and passion, and who have seen everything go up in smoke in just a few moments.

Sébastien Loeb, driver of the Delta Evo-e RX #9

Watching our cars go up in smoke was a particularly painful moment for me and for the whole team, who had been investing so much love and energy in this programme for months. Aside from the material losses, I would like to point out that there were no injuries among the staff, who were very professional. I would like to express my admiration and pride in each and every member of the team for having acted correctly and courageously from the beginning to the end of the fire.

Guerlain Chicherit, driver of the Delta Evo-e RX #36