Kristensen joins elite with fifth win
Tom Kristensen joined an elite group of drivers by taking his fifth victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours today. The Dane also became the first driver ever to take four consecutive wins in the endurance classic
The driver's victory with Team Bentley equals the number set by sportscar legend Derek Bell, who has supported the British marque's campaign this year, and leaves him just one short of the record held by Jacky Ickx.
"I'm very honoured to be mentioned with those names," said Kristensen, "and I'm particularly happy that Derek Bell has supported the Bentley programme. It was great when he said after the race that he was happy for me to join him as a five-time winner here. What more can I say? It's a great honour."
Kristensen said that the victory was all the more special because it came driving for the British team. "I have to say that any victory here is great, but running for Team Bentley, with all its history, has just been fantastic," he said. "Any win around here is an achievement, and I'm just so happy to have been a part of Bentley's victory. "
Previous article
Hour 24: Bentley takes dominant victory
Next article
Prodrive Ferrari takes flawless GTS win
6 Hours of Monza Full Race Highlights
6 Hours of Monza: Qualifying Highlights
Peugeot Hypercar 9X8 Unveiling
WEC: Portugal - Race highlights
WEC: Portugal - Alpine on pole
The understated Le Mans legend who has earned a testimonial
OPINION: After 24 Le Mans 24 Hours participations, 50-year-old Emmanuel Collard will be absent from the grid this year, stuck at the mercy of his gold driver grading. But, while he's not motivated by breaking start records, the French veteran is determined to return to the field next year
How glitches left Toyota 'worried' about losing unbeaten WEC streak
The World Endurance Championship's long-awaited return to Monza posed the sternest test yet for Toyota's new hypercar. Although the Japanese marque's GR010 HYBRID remains unbeaten, the victory for Mike Conway, Jose Maria Lopez and Kamui Kobayashi was far from plain sailing
How the next step in the IMSA and WEC convergence can reunite multiple fronts
OPINION: Following the latest convergence connection permitting Le Mans Hypercars from the World Endurance Championship to compete against LMDh entries in the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023, it could open up enticing options not only to manufacturers but also for the calendar and race formats
How overlooked Mazda produced one of Le Mans' greatest shocks
The screaming rotary-engined Mazda 787 is regarded as one of the most popular Le Mans 24 Hours-winning cars, but until its surprise success on this day 30 years ago it was never regarded as a likely victor. But that reckoned without a new technical partner, some canny political manoeuvring and a rival's bizarre self-inflicted weakness
How Alpine's stunted Portimao charge helped Toyota to keep clear
Despite going stride for stride for pace at Portimao, Alpine’s grandfathered LMP1 couldn’t convert pole position into a sustained victory fight against Toyota. And due to rules and car limitations that are set in stone, the French manufacturer will be searching for solutions in its own battle of endurance
Toyota hits the ton — charting 100 world championship sportscar starts
The Japanese manufacturer is celebrating its 100th world championship prototype start in this weekend's Portimao 8 Hours round of the World Endurance Championship. Here are the major milestones on the road to three figures since the earliest low-key days of its entry into the Group C arena nearly 40 years ago
The philosophical problems the WEC's new Hypercar class is already facing
OPINION: Most of the column inches after the World Endurance Championship's opener were centred around the relative pace of the Hypercar class and the LMP2s, but there's another question that needs addressing in order for the new division to have a successful future
How stumbling Toyota drew first blood in the WEC's new era
Amid concerns that the new Hypercar class would be upstaged on debut by the spec LMP2 machines at Spa, Toyota delivered the pole and victory that the vast majority of observers expected. But neither car had a clean run, which gave the grandfathered Alpine LMP1 an unexpected shot at glory
