Danish driver Allan Simonsen killed in horror crash at Le Mans
The first race fatality in 27 years at Le Mans cast a pall over 90th anniversary celebrations for the race on its 81st running at the La Sarthe circuit near the western French cathedral city.
Audi’s Tom Kristensen led a tragedy-tinged Le Mans 24 Hours race into the darkness of Sunday morning after fellow-Dane Allan Simonsen was killed in a crash only minutes into the endurance event.
The first race fatality in 27 years at Le Mans cast a pall over 90th anniversary celebrations for the race on its 81st running at the La Sarthe circuit near the western French cathedral city.
Simonsen’s Aston Martin team vowed to carry on and win their GTE Am class in tribute to the 34-year-old, who crashed heavily into the barriers at Tertre Rouge on his third lap, at the request of his grieving family.
Jean Todt, president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), and organisers expressed their “profound sadness” after the experienced Dane was pronounced dead at the circuit medical centre.
The most recent fatality connected with the race was Frenchman Sebastien Enjolras, killed during pre-qualifying in 1997, but the last driver to die during the race was Austrian Jo Gartner in 1986.
Le Mans, the scene of motor racing’s deadliest accident when at least 80 people died and scores more were injured in a 1955 disaster, ranks with Indianapolis and Monaco as one of the sport’s great glamour events.
