24h Le Mans
Though he is newly retired from endurance since the end of 2014, Tom Kristensen remains quite active at the circuits: his charisma and nine wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans have earned him some prestigious requests.
In June, the Dane served as Grand Marshal at the 83rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: present for all the official goings-on of the week, he also took the wheel of the car leading the competitors during the formation lap.
Tom Kristensen is also often sought out by Formula 1. After being elected president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile at the end of 2009, Jean Todt decided to add a driver to the college of race marshals. A function Kristensen will carry out for the third time in 2015 this Sunday, October 25th at the United States Grand Prix, after Australia and Monaco. Previously, he served as a marshal-driver in 2011 in Germany; in 2012 in Australia, Spain and Brazil; in 2013 in Monaco and India; and in 2014 in Austria.
His former Audi teammate Emanuele Pirro himself fulfilled this function three times in 2015 at the Grand Prix of Hungary, Belgium and Japan. The Italian driver and Kristensen share with German driver Frank Biela Audi's first three wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
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 13 2015, PRE-RACE CEREMONIES. Going from the status of driver and winner to that of Grand Marshal, Tom Kristensen (at right) experienced other facets of 24 Hours of Le Mans week.
