Hennessey Performance’s Venom F5 Faces High-Speed Crash During Testing
Imagine testing a car so fast that a standard runway isn’t enough? Hennessey Performance had to commission a Space Shuttle runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to test an experimental aerodynamics package for its 1,800-horsepower Venom F5 bespoke hypercar. Unfortunately, that aero package didn’t pass the test—resulting in dramatic consequences.
The Incident Report
According to a report from ClickOrlando, the Venom F5 lost control and flipped during a high-speed pull, causing some nominal damage to the 15,000-foot runway. Hennessey Performance CEO John Hennessey confirmed the incident through social media.
“On July 1, our team was testing a new experimental aerodynamic setup on our factory-owned Venom F5 prototype at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC),” wrote Hennessey.
“The prototype Venom F5 performed strongly, accelerating from 0-250 mph in just under 4,000 ft. when the vehicle lost downforce on the runway, causing the driver to lose control. Fortunately, our test driver walked away from the incident without injury. Pushing the limits of speed, performance, and physics has never been easy. Our team will evaluate the aerodynamic data to determine the root cause of the issue.”
Understanding the Loss of Control
When losing downforce occurs in high-speed performance cars, it typically indicates a significant failure within the aerodynamic package. Although Hennessey has not confirmed this scenario, it seems to be a likely situation that needs further investigation.
Moreover, Hennessey expressed gratitude toward his engineering team for building an “amazingly strong vehicle” and acknowledged the first responders at Kennedy Space Center. He concluded with a quote from John F. Kennedy’s famous Rice University speech regarding the United States’ mission to the Moon, reinforcing the spirit of innovation.
Aftermath of the Accident
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries resulting from the incident. According to an invoice obtained by ClickColorado, the crash caused approximately $712.70 worth of damage to the runway. A hazmat crew was required to clean up “3 to 4 gallons” of hydraulic fluid and ethanol fuel from the vehicle, perform three spall repairs, and add joint seal material in one location.
Considering the speed at which the Venom F5 was operating, the damage appears to be relatively minimal. While this outcome is fortuitous for the driver and Hennessey Performance, it underscores the serious risks associated with high-speed automotive tests.
It’s important to note that all images and footage of the incident have been redacted due to containing “trade secrets,” as stated by Space Florida. Consequently, unless Hennessey Performance chooses to release any media regarding the event, the public may never see exactly how it all unfolded.
