Photo : Prudencio CASALES (ACO)

 

The LM GTE Am podium at the 82nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was emotionally intense. The minds of the winning Danish trio Kristian Poulsen-David Heinemeier Hansson-Nicki Thiim were on their fellow countryman Allan Simonsen, tragically deceased during the first laps of the 2013 24 Hours. The first two had begun a momentum in La Sarthe that took them to the class trophy in the World Championship, with across the last five rounds two victories and three second place finishes. Kristian Poulsen and David Heinemeier-Hansson succeeded the British duo Jamie Campbell/Walter-Stuart Hall in a class dominated by Aston Martin drivers: they were followed in the final driver standings by their teammates Christoffer Nygaard, Paul dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy and Nicki Thiim!

It remains to Aston Martin to confirme its supremacy in LM GTE Pro, where the battle has been tough with Ferrari and Porsche (without forgetting Corvette, for which the 24 Hours was its only European visit). In 2007, Aston Martin, closely linked to the James Bond saga, had celebrated 007's return to the movies (with a new star in Daniel Craig) by winning its class in Le Mans. While, for the new 24th film in the saga, the most secret agent in history drives the new DB10, will the Vantage finally manage to galvanize its potential with a win in LM GTE Pro at Le Mans? The answer under the checkered flag at the 83rd edition of the 24 Hours on Sunday, June 14th.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY JUNE 14 2014, RACE. The trio Poulsen-Heinemeier Hansson-Thiim gave Aston Martin its first class win at Le Mans since 2008.