2013

A new battle has been announced between the hybrid models of Audi and Toyota. The young Frenchman Loïc Duval joined Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, two legends of the Le Mans 24 Hours for this event which commemorates the 90th anniversary of the race being on the calendar. The three drivers approached the 24 Hours with a genuine chance of success having several wins under their belts from earlier on in the season. Duval set the tone by setting an impressive time on the day of testing and then took pole position in practice. 

Audi seemed to be cruising towards a twelfth victory. However the race conditions were difficult due to autumn-like weather that is reminiscent of the continuous rain witnessed during the 1923 event. This adverse weather led to 5 hrs 27 mins of racing time where the safety car was deployed. A record! 

Among the accidents, one was fatal, that of Dane Allan Simonsen on the third lap. The epilogue of the race makes it possible to gather an observation: the numerous disruptions did not allow the adversaries to decide between themselves and it is therefore on one previous lap that the Audi of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loïc Duval overcame the Toyota. It was a ninth victory for Tom Kristensen, another record, which the champion dedicated to his compatriot killed in the race:

"We lost someone yesterday who had the same dream, a great guy. So the feeling is mutual. I also think about my father who passed away in March. I would like to win again so that I can dedicate a victory to him, because this one is for Allan (Simonsen)."

22 drivers have lost their lives on the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit since the event was introduced. Before Allan Simonsen, the last fatality to date, the previous one involved the young French driver Sébastien Enjolras, who fell victim to a road trip during pre-qualifying practice in 1997.

This helmet follows motif of the car transformed by the sculptor Fernando Costa from the chassis of a Morgan LMP2 which competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours on four occasions.

This Oak Racing Costa Art Car is the 19th car be accredited with Art Cars status. It is representative of the work of the sculptor who uses road signs as raw material.