Mr Le Mans Eyes the Race' s Next 100 Years HEAD TOPICS

Mr Le Mans Eyes the Race' s Next 100 Years

10/21/2022 6:24:00 PM

Mr Le Mans eyes the race' s next 100 years

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Road & Track

Mr. Le Mans eyes the race's next 100 years. Tom Kristensen, the greatest driver in Le Mans history, will serve as steward for its centenary celebration. Consider that few athletes have become so legendary, they've earned the moniker of their sport's most-hallowed event. There is no Mr. Super Bowl, no Mr. World Cup, nor a Mrs. Wimbledon. (We must take a moment to honor Reggie Jackson, who garnered an entire month as Mr. October.) But this August, we sat down at a table with Mr. Le Mans, the undisputed king of road racing's biggest stage. A Rolex ambassador, Kristensen was on hand for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. There, Mr. Le Mans unveiled the Le Mans Centenary trophy which will be awarded at the race's 100th anniversary next year. Kristensen also debuted as the centenary celebration's Grand Marshall, a role he'll play for the year leading up to Le Mans, 2023. Read more:
Road & Track » Mr. Le Mans Eyes The Race's Next 100 Years Tom Felton’s Most Surprising ‘Harry Potter’ Memories Feature Gary Oldman Tom Compared Playing Football to ‘Military’ Deployment After Gisele Was ‘Frustrated’ At His Un-retirement As Tom Brady's glum season trudges on, not even he may be able to fix it

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CNN News, delivered. Select from our newsletters below and enter your email to subscribe. Read more >> Mr. Le Mans Eyes The Race's Next 100 YearsTom Kristensen, the greatest driver in Le Mans history, will serve as steward for its centenary celebration. Tom Felton’s Most Surprising ‘Harry Potter’ Memories Feature Gary OldmanIn his newly-released memoir, Felton details his “jealousy” over Oldman’s bond with Radcliffe and the time he mistook the Oscar winner for a member of the “cleaning staff.” Tom Compared Playing Football to ‘Military’ Deployment After Gisele Was ‘Frustrated’ At His Un-retirement“Whenever you may say, ‘Oh man, I want to make sure I spend a little more time doing this,’ your competitiveness takes over.' he continued. As Tom Brady's glum season trudges on, not even he may be able to fix itLike a father, screaming at the disappointing behavior of his children — which, age-difference wise, is actually technically possible — Tom Brady stood over his offensive line and, to put it in the most polite terms, demanded better play. 'Grey's Anatomy': Greg Germann Returning as Tom Koracick in Season 19Germann will return as a guest star in the ongoing season this November. Emma Watson Addresses Decades-Long Relationship Speculation With 'Harry Potter' Co-Star Tom FeltonMany fans have shipped the duo ever since they learned of Watson's crush on Felton in the early days of their film franchise, in which she played Hermione Granger and he portrayed Draco Malfoy. By Oct 20, 2022 Ker Robertson Consider that few athletes have become so legendary, they've earned the moniker of their sport's most-hallowed event.By Oct 20, 2022 Ker Robertson Consider that few athletes have become so legendary, they've earned the moniker of their sport's most-hallowed event., who played Potter’s godfather Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) .Whatever is on his mind. There is no Mr. Super Bowl, no Mr. Super Bowl, no Mr. World Cup, nor a Mrs. “I’d occasionally seen him around and I thought he was one of the cleaning staff. Wimbledon. Wimbledon. (We must take a moment to honor Reggie Jackson, who garnered an entire month as Mr. “I almost look at like a football season like you’re going away on deployment in the military. October. October.” He remembers thinking, “I had a horrible feeling I might have made a faux pas, so when he’d left I asked someone, ‘Who is that?’” When alerted to his error, Felton writes: “I cringed with embarrassment.) But this August, we sat down at a table with Mr. Le Mans, the undisputed king of road racing's biggest stage. Le Mans, the undisputed king of road racing's biggest stage. Tom Kristensen's success earned him the namesake, winning Le Mans overall nine times. He was unassuming and down-to-earth, likely to be seen making a cup of tea for everyone, rather than playing the room. That tally accounts for roughly 10 percent of the Le Mans 24s ever held — a staggering feat considering the road race will celebrate its centenary next year, and that the math favored Kristensen even better before he retired eight years ago, in 2014. That tally accounts for roughly 10 percent of the Le Mans 24s ever held — a staggering feat considering the road race will celebrate its centenary next year, and that the math favored Kristensen even better before he retired eight years ago, in 2014. Which is why you are who you are. Kristensen, now 55, started his racing career in karts and formula cars, and even worked his way up to an F1 test seat for Tyrrell. Endurance racing, however, was his destiny. Endurance racing, however, was his destiny.” Felton adds: “We could see that, in part thanks to Gary’s influence, Dan was really starting to learn the craft better than any of us. Kristensen won Le Mans first in 1997 and secured his final overall victory in 2013, capping a career that spanned three separate decades. While he secured multiple wins in WEC, DTM, and JGTC, Mr. While he secured multiple wins in WEC, DTM, and JGTC, Mr. Le Mans will go down as the greatest driver to ever speed down the Mulsanne.” The podcast aired a day after Tom was seen without his wedding ring. A Rolex ambassador, Kristensen was on hand for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. A Rolex ambassador, Kristensen was on hand for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. There, Mr. Le Mans unveiled the Le Mans Centenary trophy which will be awarded at the race's 100th anniversary next year. Le Mans unveiled the Le Mans Centenary trophy which will be awarded at the race's 100th anniversary next year. Kristensen also debuted as the centenary celebration's Grand Marshall, a role he'll play for the year leading up to Le Mans, 2023. Kristensen at the corkscrew, reminiscing. Kristensen at the corkscrew, reminiscing. A source confirmed to Us Weekly in September 2022 that there was “tension” between the couple after he reneged on the announcement he was hanging up his cleats for good. Kyle Kinard What does that mean for the Dane? Well, mostly it means being his usual genial self, sharing his enthusiasm for racing, grinning along with his many admirers. But it also offers a chance for reflection. But it also offers a chance for reflection. "I wear my shoulders a little bit higher [in my role as the Grand Marshall]," he said."I feel very proud in that sense."I feel very proud in that sense." It wasn't always that way. Another source told People that Gisele is “frustrated” with Tom and “has been spending time away from” him. Kristensen said that if you'd asked him about being a Grand Marshall during his racing career, he wouldn't have entertained the idea. Kristensen said that if you'd asked him about being a Grand Marshall during his racing career, he wouldn't have entertained the idea. But things change when you stop racing and have time to reflect, he said. "To be a Grand Marshall, that's a great privilege, and I certainly appreciate it a million times more today," Kristensen said. "To be a Grand Marshall, that's a great privilege, and I certainly appreciate it a million times more today," Kristensen said."That's what age does. That's what heritage and [the history of Le Mans does. That's what heritage and [the history of Le Mans does. I don’t think there will be any coming back now. " Kristensen is of course an indelible part of that history; he helped build the modern heritage of which he speaks. When I mentioned to Kristensen that he'd won around ten percent of the Le Mans ever held, he seemed genuinely shocked. When I mentioned to Kristensen that he'd won around ten percent of the Le Mans ever held, he seemed genuinely shocked. "It gives me goosebumps a little, actually, when you mention it," he said. Then Kristensen, ever the humble gentleman, noted that he'd actually started 18 Le Mans, with four DNF's and four efforts that landed him on the podium, but not the podium's top step. Then Kristensen, ever the humble gentleman, noted that he'd actually started 18 Le Mans, with four DNF's and four efforts that landed him on the podium, but not the podium's top step. Kristensen has the same rare memory for years, dates, events, and granular moments that all great athletes share.99+ Buy Now For more about Tom Brady, read his book, The TB12 Method. He recalls early Le Mans efforts, the reasons his cars failed, the minute details that separated him from yet another victory. He recalls early Le Mans efforts, the reasons his cars failed, the minute details that separated him from yet another victory. Most of us might recall a few detailed highlights from our wedding day, but most of our greatest highs and lows tend to blur into an abstraction, our once-sharp memories smeared into broad strokes like wet paint on canvas. A later example of the V-12 LMR, driven in 2000 by JJ Lehto, who partnered with Kristensen for Le Mans in 1999. A later example of the V-12 LMR, driven in 2000 by JJ Lehto, who partnered with Kristensen for Le Mans in 1999. Mark Thompson But Kristensen has a capacity for granular detail in reflection as well as the present. Following a round-table interview, Kristensen accompanied our group to the top of Laguna Seca's corkscrew for a vintage race that featured classic Le Mans prototypes. Following a round-table interview, Kristensen accompanied our group to the top of Laguna Seca's corkscrew for a vintage race that featured classic Le Mans prototypes.. It was a trip down memory lane for Kristensen, who had competed in and against the cars diving headlong into the track's iconic corner. He pointed out where and how many of the cars were entering the corner incorrectly, how they might adjust their corner entry to maximize grip at the corner's apex. He pointed out where and how many of the cars were entering the corner incorrectly, how they might adjust their corner entry to maximize grip at the corner's apex. His insights without judgement or negativity, just the calculated study of a person who mastered his craft. The race evoked memories of Kristensen's first victory at Le Mans, achieved in 1997 with the Joest TWR Porsche WSC-95. The race evoked memories of Kristensen's first victory at Le Mans, achieved in 1997 with the Joest TWR Porsche WSC-95. That first victory, and his approach to racing at Le Mans, evolved significantly over the course of his career. "[In those early years as a driver] you were there to impress. "[In those early years as a driver] you were there to impress. You were there not to make mistakes. The mentality was very different going into the first race, and I was only signed four days before the event, which means I had probably a different kind of preparation if you like. The mentality was very different going into the first race, and I was only signed four days before the event, which means I had probably a different kind of preparation if you like. But at the end of the day, we won that race and I had a lap record. I had never been there before," he said. I had never been there before," he said. "[After my first win], then the mentality changed. It was also a bit like the [my country then] expected me to win. It was also a bit like the [my country then] expected me to win." That first win changed more than expectations for Kristensen. It earned him opportunities. It earned him opportunities. "I had a great privilege for the first time. I had more than two offers, I had four or five offers [of employment for the following season]. I had more than two offers, I had four or five offers [of employment for the following season]. It was a luxury, uh, a challenge or problem for me [to decide]," he said. But in those early few years for Kristensen, despite an inaugural victory at Le Mans, repeat success at the race proved elusive. But in those early few years for Kristensen, despite an inaugural victory at Le Mans, repeat success at the race proved elusive. Down the corkscrew went a screaming streak of white called the BMW V-12 LMR. Kristensen's eyes lit up. Kristensen's eyes lit up. "I went to BMW in 1998. Then in 1999 we won Sebring with a new BMW and it was a fantastic car, a fantastic-sounding machine. Then in 1999 we won Sebring with a new BMW and it was a fantastic car, a fantastic-sounding machine. V-12 engine. Single roll hoop. Single roll hoop. And I had done all the testing with the team and the drivers were changed over those two years. I stayed on and we were leading Le Mans by four laps when the car retired due to a broken suspension and the throttle stuck open on poor JJ Leto, my great teammate at the time. I stayed on and we were leading Le Mans by four laps when the car retired due to a broken suspension and the throttle stuck open on poor JJ Leto, my great teammate at the time. So now it's already two years [without winning Le Mans overall] and I haven't proven myself again. That hurt so much. That hurt so much. That's the biggest disappointment I had in my racing life." The V-12 LMR led for 17 minutes after it retired—an eternity—even by the standards of a 24-hour endurance race." The V-12 LMR led for 17 minutes after it retired—an eternity—even by the standards of a 24-hour endurance race. Kristensen sloughed off the disappointment of those years and the success kept coming. He matured into a serial winner with more raw speed than most, defined by an intelligence and tactical nous of a racer with far more experience. He matured into a serial winner with more raw speed than most, defined by an intelligence and tactical nous of a racer with far more experience. His career at Le Mans spanned three decades by the time it was over. Kristensen saw plenty of change in that time, from the cars to the drivers. Kristensen saw plenty of change in that time, from the cars to the drivers. "If you look at the cars over three decades, you have to adjust your driving style a lot to the cars. The track is the same length, but the cars are very different. The track is the same length, but the cars are very different. Look back at the last hypercars, like the [Audi] R18. There's only two pedals on the floor, for example. There's only two pedals on the floor, for example. The first car I drove had an 'H' pattern gearbox on the Porsche. Then I have a sequential gearbox with the BMW. Then I have a sequential gearbox with the BMW. Audis go into paddle shift. So a lot of these things, when you have a big heavy engine, you tend to put more emphasis on braking and rotating the car and not getting that wrong. So a lot of these things, when you have a big heavy engine, you tend to put more emphasis on braking and rotating the car and not getting that wrong. Whereas with the light hypercars, toward the end, it's all about the momentum you carry through the corners. Whereas the earlier cars had more power but were very, very, very hard to rotate in corners, say in terms of consistency," he said. Whereas the earlier cars had more power but were very, very, very hard to rotate in corners, say in terms of consistency," he said. While Kristensen's Grand Marshall duties stoke hindsight, his excitement for the future of Le Mans is palpable too. A sea change in upcoming regulations, and the streamlining of race classes, will allow greater competition between manufacturers in the coming years. A sea change in upcoming regulations, and the streamlining of race classes, will allow greater competition between manufacturers in the coming years. "Le Mans in a way, looks like it's never been healthier," Kristensen said."Look at how many manufacturers are lining up."Look at how many manufacturers are lining up." We await the Le Mans centenary with bated breath, and hope to catch up with Kristensen again at every stop along the way. The only member of staff to flip a grain truck on its roof, Kyle Kinard is R&T's senior editor and resident malcontent. The only member of staff to flip a grain truck on its roof, Kyle Kinard is R&T's senior editor and resident malcontent. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below .