Tom Kristensen on the magic of Le Mans

There are few names better known at the 24 Hours of Le Mans than Tom Kristensen's. The Audi Sport Team Joest driver has won more times than anyone else and this year is chasing his 10th victory.  Here are a few of his thoughts ahead of the 82nd running of the world's most famous endurance race which begins at 15h00 on Saturday. 

“For the fans, for us drivers and for all the others, there’s only one truth: the next race is the one that counts, not the previous ones. And the next race is always the hardest one.

"It’s great to also be competing against a brand like Porsche this year – in keeping with our claim, ‘welcome challenges.’ We’re going to give our best at Le Mans. The test day already showed that we can make maximum demands on our car and, now, if we want to have a chance, we need to prove that for 24 hours.

“Describing Le Mans in a few words is almost impossible.

"A number of challenges are spread across the 13.6 kilometers: relatively slow chicanes such as those following the start and finish and on the Hundaudières straight, very fast sections like the first part of Indianapolis and the Porsche corners, the two corners in Mulsanne and Arnage, where we shift all the way down to first gear, and the straights of course.

"In four sections we reach a speed of more than 300 km/h. The traffic being generated when four categories share a field is always a topic on such a high-speed circuit. Only part of the track is permanently used for racing. The major part is public roads closed to traffic which simply feel different than a race track. The fascination remains unique.”

From Audi Sport

Photo:  CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2013, THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2013.  Tom Kristensen watching the progress of his No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro in qualifying.