Officially underway, one of the most revelled motoring events in the world; the Goodwood Festival of Speed has taken its first victim in the opening hours of the event. A pricey and one-off Lotus Evija X was the unlucky benefactor that collided with the hay bales adjacent to the starting line. 
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The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed has claimed its first casualty: the Lotus Evija X, a one-off track car designed to break a specific Nürburgring record, crashed during Thursday’s events, destroying its front end. Fortunately, the driver was unharmed and the damage doesn’t seem irreparable.
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While high-power cars often meet the hay bales at Goodwood, this crash was unusual because it occurred right at the start line as opposed to the several other high speed corners that have claimed contenders in the past. Footage shows the Evija X performing a massive burnout before suddenly veering right into the hay bales, crushing the front clamshell but leaving the driver cell intact. Announcers speculated that the incident might have been caused by software issues related to the car’s four individual motors and 1 479 kW, though confirmation from Lotus is pending.
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Before this mishap, the Evija X had set the record for the fastest lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife by a production car chassis, clocking in at 6 minutes and 24 seconds. This makes it the third fastest car to ever lap the track, behind the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo and the Volkswagen ID.R. Despite the damage, it’s hoped the Evija X will only need a new front-end piece. As a one-off project, Lotus might need to fabricate a new part if no spares are available. Thankfully, this doesn’t seem like a major setback in terms of cost. We are attending the event, so stay tuned to our social media for live updates throughout the action packed weekend!
