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Tom Kristensen earned the nickname Mr. Le Mans for setting a file for probably the most wins on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kristensen was born in 1967 in Hobro, Denmark, and commenced his profession in 1984 on the age of 17. Through the early years of his profession, he received a number of karting titles and was additionally the Japanese Formulation 3 champion in 1993.
Kristensen’s profession hit a stumbling block in 2007 when he was concerned in an accident on the Hockenheimring racetrack in Germany. However he was again on observe shortly after that and went forward to win the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. If you’re a fan of motorsports, listed here are 10 details about Tom Kristensen that will shock you.
10 Six-Time 12 Hours Of Sebring Winner
Tom Kristensen is likely one of the best drivers on this planet of Tremendous Sebring, with a complete of six victories in an area of 13 years. He has the best variety of wins within the 12 Hours of Sebring, however he is carefully adopted by the Italian driver Rinaldo Capello, who has 5 wins.
The annual 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race often takes place on the Sebring Worldwide Raceway, in Florida. After a three-year hiatus – due to the pandemic – the seventieth version of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring was scheduled for March this 12 months.
9 Most Profitable 24 Hours Of Le Mans Driver
Tom Kristensen is just not known as Mr. LeMans for nothing. He has received the 24 Hours of Le Mans 9 instances, making him probably the most victorious driver within the historical past of the Triple Crown 24-hour car endurance race. The second most profitable driver is Jacky Ickx, however Tom edges him with three wins.
Kristensen together with Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela turned the primary three drivers to realize three consecutive wins – in 2000, 20001, and 2002 – since Jacky Ickx did it in 1977. Kristensen sealed his legendary standing along with his last 24 Hours of Le Mans win in 2013, simply earlier than his retirement.
8 Knight Of The Order Of The Dannebrog
With 9 Le Mans 24 Hours wins, six 12 Hours of Sebring victories, and different achievements in motorsports, it is apparent Tom Kristensen is deserving of each honor he receives. In 2014, the Audi driver was appointed Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog by the Queen of Denmark, Margarethe II in Copenhagen.
The Danish driver, who was 47-year-old on the time, expressed his delight and gratitude to the royal household for following his profession and recognizing his contributions to sports activities in Denmark and world wide.
7 Inducted Into The Danish Sports activities Corridor Of Fame
As one of many best racing drivers of all time, it is very possible that Tom Kristensen will preserve getting recognitions even after he is useless. About 4 years after his appointment as a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog, Tom obtained one other monumental honor, as he was inducted into the Danish Sports activities Corridor Of Fame.
The consideration is the peak of your achievement as a Danish sportsman, so you’ll be able to think about Tom’s pleasure on listening to the information. As part of formalities for the occasion, a bust of Kristensen was displayed together with these of different inductees.
6 2013 World Endurance Champion
Ever because the demise of the World Sportscar Championship way back to ’92, the FIA World Endurance Championship has been what endurance auto racing sequence followers sit up for. The racing occasion is put collectively by the Fédération Internationale de l’Car (FIA) and the Car Membership de l’Ouest (ACO).
The 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship season was received by Allan McNish, Loïc Duval, and Tom Kristensen with the German Audi Sport Workforce Joest.
5 Grand Marshal For The Tremendous Sebring
In 2020, the FIA WEC and the IMSA named Tom Kristensen because the Grand Marshal on the Tremendous Sebring. Together with his spectacular observe file, Tom is the fitting individual to wave the inexperienced flag on the 1000 Miles of Sebring and 12 Hours of Sebring periods of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Tom expressed his delight on the announcement, saying he “can’t wait to be again at Sebring.” Talking on the choice to pick out Tom because the Grand Marshal on the Tremendous Sebring, the WEC CEO, Gérard Neveu says although there are a lot of profitable endurance drivers on the Sebring, there’s just one Mr. LeMans, so the choice was fairly simple.
4 Tom Kristensen: The E book
It appears Tom Kristensen lives by the precept of Benjamin Franklin who mentioned, “if you wish to be remembered, write a e book price studying or stay a life price writing about.” Within the autobiography, Tom Kristensen: The E book, Mr. LeMans goes into element about his Le Mans 24 Hours wins and going world along with his Audi T18.
Nevertheless, the e book is not only a chronicle of Kristensen’s successes on the LeMans: he takes readers via his early years in Denmark, and his darkest moments: the 2007 horrific crash at Hockenheim.
3 FIA Corridor Of Fame
In 2019, the FIA honored world championship sports activities automobile racing drivers by inducting 29 endurance racing champions into the FIA Corridor of Fame. The occasion was held on the Car Membership de France in Paris and even the late Stefan Bellof, who received the WEC title with Porsche in 1984, was posthumously inducted into the FIA Corridor of Fame.
Tom Kristensen, alongside the 2013 FIA World Endurance champions and Audi drivers Loïc Duval and Allan McNish was additionally Inducted into the FIA Corridor of Fame.
2 Retired In 2014
Tom Kristensen lastly retired in 2014, after being within the motorsport racing scene for greater than three many years. Mr. Le Mans is likely one of the most adorned sports activities automobile drivers of all time, with a number of championship titles and particular recognitions. The Audi driver was 47 years previous on the time of his retirement.
Talking on the press convention in Copenhagen to formally announce his retirement, Kristensen says he has “reached the end line” and appears ahead to doing different issues. His final race within the WEC was on the thirtieth of November 2014.
1 KidsAid Denmark Ambassador
For Tom Kristensen, life is not all concerning the observe. He channels a few of his assets into good causes like KidsAid, a non-profit group that helps sick and weak youngsters. Tom Kristensen is a model ambassador of KidsAid Denmark.
He promotes the non-profit group on his social media accounts and even has a complete part of his Instagram Highlights devoted to KidsAid actions.
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