Porsche 918 Destroyed - Sad Day

NOOOOOOO! First Porsche 918 Spyder Burns To Ground In Gas Station Fire

Just happened....

 

Just got word that fuel somehow reached hot brake rotors, with predictable results. Now how do you get fuel on a brake rotor?

 

Wowzers! I know that the 918 destroyed the Green Hell lap record but hearing one completely destroyed destroyed is hot braking I mean heartbreaking.

 

Any idea what's gonna happen to the wreck ? Would porsche buy it back to study it ?

 

it wants to be a Ferrari.

 

Question asked.....question answered.....

CTV Toronto | News Video - Latest Toronto News Headlines, Breaking News and Live Reports

Clearly not the wisest choice to grab the squeegee....

 

I thought that Seinfeld owned the first 918?

 

yep. that's a lot of spilled petrol. any more clarification per the ignition source? Radiator or Brake rotor?

 

Car belongs to Michael Wekerle. 1 out of 4 918 delivered in Canada so far.

 

OK - I understand. First in Canada.

Lordy - I bet some Insurance Agent is in need of a big serious Scotch.

 

First the GT3, now the 918.

 

Sounds like it was a mistake moment from the owner/gas station. Gas overfilled. He then pushed the gas and it drips onto the engine compartment/radiator.

Arent pumps supposed to stop when the tank is full?

 

No. Not nearly the same situation.

 

I hope not!

 

did you watch the video? a big overflow (not sure if it was owner's fault or the nozzle being faulty for no self shut off) that became a travesty when a squeegee was introduced.

 

At least nobody was killed, or injured

 

saw the same thing happen on a 360 one day at a gas station in Long Island...fuel spilled over hit a warm brake rotor and BOOM...flames galore quickly put out by a quick minded attendant with an extinguisher

 

I've never seen that happen and hope I never do.

 

This was on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/davidandperry/status/516399590028087296/photo/1

Seems pump splashed and hit hot exhaust.

 

When I first looked at the car (I happened to be at the dealer before that 918 was picked up) I thought it was a strange/unusual design to have the exhaust exiting out the top. Looking at it now it does seem dangerous to have the hot exhaust that close to the fuel filler. Spillage should just drip down the bodywork, but you have to assume there would be the rare case of fuel spray, no?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I don't see the location of the exhaust as an issue. Gas station cameras of the incident in Canada shows the gas pump overfilled (for whatever reason), the owner then squeegees spilled fuel rearward and fire starts from left rear wheel area, not anywhere near exhaust. Probably contact with brake rotor that started fire.

 

I would still think it is exaust heat, not brake rotor heat, that set it off. I don't know where exactly the exhaust runs on that car, but in a 911 there is a lot of heat pouring out of the rear wheel-wells when you shut the car off, and that is with cool brakes; the exhaust runs right behing the wheel. Hard to imagine brake rotors getting hot enough to ignite the gas from street driving, unless he rode the brakes hard for the last km before filling up.

 

918 entire exhaust system is contained within the Vee of the engine and up from it...headers, cats, main silencer, exhaust tips. There is no exhaust plumbing on the side (air intakes are located there), or below (the area you suggest). In front of rear wheel are the main radiators for the engine. And those, along with associated pipes, could get hot enough (perhaps). As you would expect, Porsche AG is investigating keenly.