What model was the first Garage 56 entry at Le Mans in 2012?

The first Garage 56 entry at Le Mans in 2012 was the DeltaWing. The radically narrow-nosed prototype was entered as an experimental project rather than as a conventional class competitor, making it the inaugural occupant of the race’s innovation slot.

Garage 56 was created for vehicles demonstrating significant technical or accessibility innovations that did not fit normal Le Mans categories. The DeltaWing used an unusual aerodynamic shape, very narrow front track and low mass to pursue efficiency rather than the traditional approach of adding power and downforce. It was powered by a Nissan engine and run by the Highcroft Racing operation.

The car attracted enormous attention but did not finish the 2012 race. An accident involving Toyota driver Kazuki Nakajima damaged it during the night. That result is sometimes mistaken for a failure of the Garage 56 idea itself; the programme’s purpose was experimentation, and later projects included hydrogen-powered and accessibility-focused entries.