The Isle of Man TT is synonymous with raw speed and danger. The 2025 event delivered another stark reminder during a sidecar qualifying session when the highly experienced crew of Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley suffered a terrifying crash at the notorious Rhencullen section.
While both riders miraculously escaped life-threatening injuries, the incident raises critical questions about the razor-thin margins for error at the TT and the systems designed to protect its competitors.
The Crash
On June 1st, 2025, Founds and Walmsley – multiple TT podium finishers and pre-race favorites – were pushing hard in a crucial final qualifying session. Conditions were already challenging: light rain had begun falling on parts of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course, and the session had been delayed by an hour due to earlier wet weather.
Entering Rhencullen, a high-speed series of bends taken at nearly 140mph, their Honda sidecar reportedly “appeared to lift off the ground coming over a crest.” This phenomenon, where a vehicle momentarily becomes airborne due to the course’s undulations, is particularly dangerous for the inherently unstable three-wheeled sidecars. Combine this with potentially reduced grip from the damp surface, and the margin for error vanished instantly. The outfit crashed heavily, triggering an immediate red flag.
Quick Response, Fortunate Outcome
The TT’s emergency protocols swung into action. Marshals and medics rushed to the scene. Initial reports indicated Founds sustained arm injuries, while Walmsley appeared unscathed. Crucially, both were conscious and talking. They were airlifted to Noble’s Hospital for thorough checks. The relief was palpable the next day when Team Founds Racing confirmed both had been discharged with “a few scrapes and bumps but thankfully nothing too serious,” praising the marshals and medical teams.
What Went Wrong? Beyond Bad Luck
While driver error or mechanical failure can never be entirely ruled out, the crash highlights several systemic factors:
1. The Rhencullen: This section has a deadly history, claiming lives as far back as 1927. Its high-speed crests and technical bends demand absolute precision. Even slight miscalculations or changes in conditions can be catastrophic. Despite past modifications, its inherent danger remains.
2. Weather’s Wild Card: The light rain, following a delay due to earlier wet weather, was a critical variable. On a section where machines can become unweighted over a crest, even a minor loss of adhesion drastically shrinks the safety window.
3. The Pressure Cooker: Qualifying sessions, especially the last chance to dial in setups, push riders to the absolute limit. Founds himself had called this session the “last chance saloon.” This necessary aggression, combined with changing track conditions, inherently increases risk.
4. Digital Flagging System Under Fire: The crash intensified scrutiny on the TT’s high-tech Digital Flagging System, introduced in 2022 to enhance safety. Reports emerged suggesting “critical failures” and delays during this and other 2025 incidents.
Analysis pointed to a potential “3-minute delay” in activating electronic flags, partly because marshals needed time to assess the severity before informing Race Control. This “man-in-the-loop” bottleneck undermines the system’s promised instant reaction capability. While praised for visibility once activated, the speed and process of activation became a major controversy.
Conclusion
The TT’s future hinges on learning from such close calls. The focus must intensify on predictive technologies, refining human-system interactions like flag activation, and continuing specialized research into sidecar safety (like passenger airbags). The goal isn’t to sanitize the TT’s unique challenge but to ensure its heroes have the best possible protection against its inherent perils.
