Yahoo Autos Koenigsegg One:1 Nurburgring Crash Was Caused by an ABS Failure
The good thing about modern cars is that they are basically rolling computers, and as such, they log data. The Koenigsegg One:1 is no different, so after taking the wreck back to the factory, Koenigsegg's examination of both the car and the on-board telemetry revealed that a fault with the front left ABS wheel sensor signal can be blamed for the car's high-speed rendezvous with the fence at the Nurburgring.
"The small yellow ABS warning light is located centrally in the dashboard but may be difficult for the driver to see when he is wearing a helmet and concentrating on high-speed driving around the circuit," Koenigsegg's engineers explain. They believe the ABS fault occurred long before the crash at Fuchsröhre, but that was the first time the driver braked hard enough to invoke ABS, and when it didn't kick in, the car plowed off the track. Make sure to read Koenigsegg's full analysis, as it leaves no question about what happened and their plans for a comeback with chassis no. 107, the car involved in the crash.
Koenigsegg factory test driver Robert Serwanski wasn't the one behind the wheel when the car's brakes locked up at over 100 mph, flying through the guardrail soon after. But whoever was driving the car deserves a massive high five for staying calm enough to put out a small fire caused by the carbon fiber panels touching the hot exhaust upon landing, using the fire extinguisher located in the cabin. Both doors of the One:1 opened perfectly after that crash, and even the removable roof panel remained in place-the car's subframes and body panels took most of the force, leaving the carbon monocoque intact.
Koenigsegg's engineers managed to replicate the accident by disconnecting the left front wheel ABS sensor and applying ABS-level braking force on their runway in a different vehicle. Koenigsegg says the One:1 plowed into the fence in a straight line thanks to a backup feature that keeps the rear brakes from locking up if the fronts are locked, preventing the car from going into an uncontrolled spin.
As far as safety is concerned, new Koenigseggs already have an Active Systems Warning setup in place, which restricts the car to 60 mph if a fault is detected. The company will now make changes to that software to include ABS monitoring as well. And by next year, One:1 chassis no. 107 should look something like this again:
