Driver Allan Simonsen dies in 24 hours of Le Mans crash

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Danish driver Allan Simonsen, 34, died following a crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Simonsen was taken to the hospital after his Aston Martin No. 95 crashed about 10 minutes into the race. It was Simonsen’s seventh endurance race, he finished second in the GT2 class at Le Mans three years ago.

 

Simonsen started on the pole for the race,  car spun at high speed and skidded into the barrier at the Tertre Rouge corner. Authorities say Simonsen died at the hospital shortly after arrival from injuries sustained in the accident.

Simonsen and Danish co-drivers Kristian Poulsen and Christoffer Nygaard were leading the GTE Am class in the world endurance championship after topping their category at Silverstone in April and finishing second in Spa-Francorchamps last month.

A statement from Le Mans organizer said:

“At 15h09 the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE, driven by Allan Simonsen of Denmark, exited the track at high-speed at the Tertre Rouge corner on his fourth lap of the race.

“The driver was immediately attended on the scene by the doctors from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s Medical Service.

“In a serious condition, Allan Simonsen was transferred immediately to the circuit medical centre, where he died soon after.

“Allan Simonsen’s family has been informed immediately by David Richards, principal of Aston Martin Racing.”

The ACO will make no further statement until the exact reasons for the accident are determined.

Simonsen’s death is the first Le Mans 24 Hours fatality since Sebastien Enjolras was killed in an accident during pre-qualifying in 1997, and the first during the race since Jo Gartner’s death in 1986.

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