Sports car driver Allan Simonsen died from injuries sustained Saturday in the 90th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Allan Simonsen killed in accident at 24 Hours of Le Mans
Allan Simonsen died on Saturday after being injured in a crash during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Robert Cianflone
The 34-year-old was driving an Aston Martin Vantage GTE for Aston Martin Racing when going through the Tertre Rouge corner on Lap 3 he made heavy contact with the Armco barrier. The impact ripped apart the guardrail necessitating repairs and a caution period for nearly an hour.
Simonsen was transferred in serious condition to an on-site medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries, according to a statement from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.
A native of Odense, Denmark, Simonsen was considered one of the pre-race favorites to win the GTE-AM Class. He was sharing the car with fellow countrymen Christoffer Nygaard and Kristian Poulsen. Simonsen had set fast time in GTE-AM qualifying Thursday.
Simonsen entered Le Mans as the FIA World Endurance Championship leader in the GTE-Am Class. He competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times previously with a best class finish of second.
This was the first fatality at Le Mans since 1997 when Sebastien Enjolras was killed in a pre-qualifying accident. The last driver to die in the 24-hour race was Jo Gartner in 1986.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the world’s most prestigious races. The around the clock event features drivers in four classes with varying speeds competing on the 8.46-mile Circuit de la Sarthe course.
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