Rollcentre's disappointment

"Unfortunately I think Bourdais was a bit impatient to get past me and made a bit of a lunge," said Short. "I was going to let him through up at the first chicane and the Esses wasn't the place to do it."

"We gave the car as good a check as you can in this situation but when the suspension broke I was just a passenger at high speed. It was the biggest accident I have ever had for sure."

The two were close together in the classification at the time, although not on the same lap. But Bourdais said that it was frustration that led to the touch.

"The contact was my fault, but he was slower than me and he had been closing every single door," said the Frenchman. "I didn't want to touch him but I got a bit upset. He was staring at me in his mirrors for two laps before that and he obviously didn't want to let me through."

Despite the retirement, the Rollcentre team has won plenty of friends at Le Mans this week, and hopes to turn out in the remaining three Le Mans Endurance Series races this year. Even before Le Mans it starred in the season's opening classic at Sebring.

"I am really proud of this team," added Short, who has been walking with the aid of a stick since he hit the wall this morning. "It took a while to sink in after crashing at that speed, but everyone did a tremendous job."