Kristensen
Kristensen

Kristensen puts it in print

Riley Riley

Tom Kristensen is one of motorsport’s most successful drivers, with nine wins at Le Mans — six of them in a row.

And now you can read about his exploits in The Book, which takes the reader on an exciting journey through four decades full of emotions.

It stretches from his parents’ petrol station in Denmark to champagne showers in front of 250,000 fans at the world’s greatest motor race.

Born in 1967 in Hobro, Denmark, Kristensen began his career in 1984, winning several karting titles.

He is one of the most successful racing car drivers of the modern era, with record tallies of victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours (nine) and the Sebring 12 Hours (six) and FIA WEC World Champion.

In April 2007, he was involved in an accident while racing on the Hockenheimring race course in Germany, escaping death thanks to a new type of collar that may have prevented a broken neck.

In November, 2019, Kristensen announced that he was retiring from motorsport at the end of the current World Endurance Championship season.

Private and never-seen-before pictures, untold stories, new facts and personal insights as told by Kristensen himself make The Book unique.

Published in a very large, sumptuous format to best display the superb photographs, The Book will be treasured by the Danish hero’s legions of fans and all motorsport enthusiasts captivated by the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Book is written in collaboration with Lars Krone.

 

Key content

  • Early years: growing up in Denmark; a close-knit, happy, supportive family, huge success in karting; from penniless talent to Formula 3 champion, in Germany in 1991.
  • Four successful years in Japan: a second Formula 3 title, with the Tom’s team in 1993; starring in Formula 3000; showing his versatility in touring cars; living a different life in Japan.
  • Back to Europe: flashes of brilliance in Formula 3000; racing for Honda in touring cars, including in Britain’s BTCC; tastes of Formula 1 with test roles at Tyrrell and Williams, and for Michelin.
  • Victory at Le Mans as a rookie in 1997, with Joest Racing’s TWR-Porsche; two fruitless Le Mans outings with BMW follow, but there is another famous début win, in the Sebring 12 Hours in 1999.
  • Audi works driver: Le Mans hat-trick, 2000–2002, each time with Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro in the all-conquering R8 — a unique achievement.
  • Bentley Boy, winning Le Mans in 2003; two more Le Mans wins with privateer teams, Team Goh (2004) and Champion Racing (2005), both in Audi R8s.
  • Diesel-powered: epic fights with Peugeot, none more so than at Le Mans in 2008, an incredible race that brought Kristensen his eighth victory there.
  • His darkest moment: the horrific crash at Hockenheim on 22 April 2007, driving an Audi DTM car — but he recovers in time for Le Mans eight weeks later.
  • Going global: racing the Audi R18 worldwide; World Champion in 2013, his most successful season, which also brings a highly emotional ninth Le Mans victory.
  • Concluding sections: thoughts on fitness and teamwork; his favourite cars, races and tracks; complete results listing.

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