Track Incident
Two legendary Nissan Skyline GT-R cars sustained serious damage during a recent incident at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The owners of the damaged cars are filing a lawsuit against the track administration. The event occurred at the beginning of the month when both cars were rear-ended by a track employee operating a telescopic handler—a large forklift-type machine used for moving equipment. The entire episode was captured on camera.
Accident Circumstances
A red Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 model and a purple R32 GT-R, owned by Artin Nazarian and Akihiro Fuchigami respectively, received significant damage as a result of the collision. Reportedly, both drivers had stopped by the side of the main straight section of the track, complying with red flag rules that were in effect on the track.
Footage from a dashcam installed on a car in the pit lane shows the subsequent events. While the two Nissans remained parked on the straight, the forklift, loaded with dozens of tires, was moving along the same section of the track, likely heading to the site of an earlier incident. However, the forklift driver seemingly failed to notice the two parked cars ahead and crashed directly into the rear of both.
Nature of the Damage
The force of the impact shattered the rear window of the car that was hit from behind, tore off the rear spoiler, destroyed the rear bumper, and also damaged the rear quarter panel on the driver’s side, the rear lights, and the wheel. Undoubtedly, repairs will be very expensive, if even possible. The purple R32 GT-R also received a strong impact, damaging the rear bumper, lights, and quarter panel.
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Legal Consequences
The lawsuit filed by the owners alleges that the forklift operator “continued to move without maintaining a safe and clear view ahead and without taking proper measures to ensure a clear path.” The lawsuit also describes the driver’s actions as “grossly negligent.”
In addition to the serious damage to the cars, the lawsuit states that Nazarian and Fuchigami also sustained bodily injuries. They are also seeking compensation for “pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, inconvenience, and other non-economic losses to be proven at trial.”
Track Administration’s Response
While the track administration has not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit itself, its representative confirmed that “an incident involving a track service vehicle and a race car occurred on the premises during a private track day at the beginning of the month,” and noted that the track “continues to work diligently and timely through this process.”
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This case raises important questions regarding safety and traffic management at race tracks during events, especially when both participants and service vehicles are present in the same space. The damage to cars like the Skyline GT-R, which hold not only significant material but also historical and cultural value for the automotive community, makes the incident particularly painful. The outcome of the legal proceedings could influence staff operation standards and safety procedures at similar venues in the future to prevent such situations from recurring.