Le Mans 2013 got off to a tragic start, as Aston Martin Racing driver Allan Simonsen was killed in an accident on the Tetre Rouge corner shortly after the start of the race. The thoughts and prayers of the GTPlanet community are with his family as we all mourn the loss of a very talented racing driver.
Despite the sad turn of events, the race went on, and competing GT Academy champions Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough joined Michael Krumm as they drove their Greaves Motorsport LMP2 Zytek-Nissan to a fourth-in-class finish.
“In racing you need luck,” said Krumm. “The whole team and all three drivers worked hard and made no mistakes but this year’s race was unique. We lost a driver yesterday and the entire race has been chaotic; I have never seen so many safety cars in a race. The luck wasn’t there for us as we lost time during nearly all of the safety car periods and I think ultimately that was the difference between taking a podium place or fourth place.
“My team mates were amazing,” he continued. “Jann took the start so I told him to keep it simple and that he could prove his speed during ‘happy hour’. I was so impressed with him. If you can push hard and not put the car in the wall you have talent and he is clearly a big talent and he deserves congratulations. Lucas was perfect; he kept his head down and delivered a solid, experienced performance. I think this was the most difficult race I ever had. Moments like the restarts in the rain and a few very near misses make me appreciate this fourth place finish.”
Lucas Ordonez was in the same position as Jann Mardenborough two years ago when he took part in his first Le Mans, but, as he explains, the challenges of this race don’t get any easier.
“If you asked me if the experience of three years racing at Le Mans makes it easier I would say no way,” Lucas explained. “This was the hardest. It is difficult to keep the pace when the conditions are wet, then dry, then wet, then dry, and the whole race has been like that. The competition is closer than ever before this year but we knew we had a strong line up. To be fighting for a podium finish after qualifying in 12th place is amazing. During the Test Day I had to concentrate on getting my confidence back in the LM P2 car as I have been racing in GT3 so far this year. I have spent hours going over data with my engineer, really doing my homework and I think it paid off today.”
Jann Mardenborough has been the talk of the paddock during the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours. He started the race and finished the race and put in some astonishingly fast times during triple stints in the night. It is a measure of Jann’s determination that he has just finished his first Le Mans and he is cross that he has missed out on a podium finish.
“To be honest I’m disappointed,” said Mardenborough, after taking the chequered flag. “I wanted that podium and we pushed so hard for it but it wasn’t to be. The last stint was tricky as I had to keep telling myself not to push on the wet tyres. I really enjoyed racing here though. When you are on this track, on your own, with new tyres and low-ish fuel, it’s incredible.”
Photography by John Brooks, via Greaves Motorsport.
See more articles on 24 Hours of Le Mans, Jann Mardenborough, and Lucas Ordonez.
Mega impressive Lucas Ordonez and Jann Mardenborough joined Michael Krumm! Go-go GT Academy team!
If Jann keeps pushing hard and strives for improvement, this kid could be driving for big teams like Audi in the future.
I really hope he becomes that breakout star after Ordonez.
Same here. Jann has the talent and potential just like Lucas, especially since he’s racing in F3, GT3 and in LMP2, which is different series of racing and car characteristics. And he’s always laying it down out there. Which is impressive. I would love to see Team GT Academy in a LMP1 class car, heck, even racing in F1!
But congrats on 4th place guys! :D
And RIP Allen Simonsen, you will be missed :,(. but I’m glad TK won for his nation of Denmark and fallen countryman, I have even more respect for him from his tribute to Allen. :):tup:
They got great air! About maybe 2 sec? lol
Good job! I think finish fourth on such conditions is not an easy task, looks like Lucas still solid as a driver, Jann is a fast and focus drivers, next time will be better!
Congrats to all team!Go GTguys!
Hopefully we get a #95 in honor for Simonsen in GT6. And the Audi R18. And the #42.
I normaly ignore these articles, RIP Allan you have truly gone to a better place.
Congrats to the wonderful GT Academy team on their top-class finish! It’s amazing how one can go from just an ordinary GT player to a superstar racecar driver. Amazing performance by the team!
unlucky to miss out on the podium especially when g drive managed to convince the aco that mike conway was a bronze driver . Not many driver in f1 with a cv like that
Sure jann can grab an f3 podium at the end of the season
We need that car featured in Gran Turismo 6
What about safety cars in GT6? At least running start with them.
They have the Nissan GTR pace car in GT5. But a new one would be cool this time around. This time with the ability to turn the lights on and off hopefully.
After this race I think I’ve had my fair share of safety cars.
Congrats guys!!!
Mister Kaz,,,can we get the Greaves Motorsport LMP2 Zytek-Nissan on GT6???
;)
its crazy how going from playing a video game at home turned into these 3 racers (and more over the years) competing and doing SUPER in real races. amazing how this game helps jump start that career. 4th place after coming out of a video game is awesome.
This race was crazy.At least Kristensen brought some happiness to Denmark.
Jann was simply fantastic.
This race was just Audi No.2 domination :/ Toyota did great to keep up and the GT Academy tried there best but 4th is good, and there is always next year (I’d love them to try LMP1 next year)
Racing can be so brutal. You prepare for this race for 364 days. You have a serious accident and die in the first few laps. Then they do a clean up and within 1 hour the entire scene looks like nothing ever happened …that Forza Motorsport corner was as pristine as it was before the race started. And then the race and drama continues while family, crew and friends deal with the tragedy. Is there any other sport where things would have continued undisturbed like this despite someone’s death? Do not get me wrong – I know that is how it works and so does every one of those drivers. All I am saying is that its remarkable how focused motorsport is. NOTHING stops the show and all these drivers really are taking the ultimate risk each time they take the wheel of their car. Not only is their a possibility of death, but your death is likely to become nothing more than a part of the post-race report.
Incredible I must say. I can only imagine that once the dust settled the entire racing community rallied to show support to the fallin collegue. Although I could be just dreaming things. If so that’s the stuff you don’t always get to see in reports on you local news.
It is a shame. A short time of reflection and then right back to the race. Even the fans seem to forget until it’s all over. It was a pretty somber event for me personally after the accident.
It’s nothing to do with motorsport specifically. Nobody likes to be reminded of their own mortaility. Think about your reaction to a well-loved celebrity passing away. You’ll talk about it with your friends for a bit and then move on.
Obviously Mr. Simonsen’s friends, family and perhaps countrymen will carry this with them for longer, but that is the nature of life and relationships. I am indeed saddened at the loss but in a week I may not even remember it unless someone specifically mentions the incident. It is not lack of respect but the natural human process. I’m sure nobody means to sweep this to the side but pay your respects and leave this time to those that were close to Allan and let them deal with it in their own ways.
On the Academy champs, well done to them for making it through the difficult race. I am quite impressed with Jann’s natural talent and skills. I hope and anticipate he will go to the pinnacle of motorsports and shine.
I’m not sure if you watched the race coverage and interviews at all, but this event seriously affected the drivers and crew. One driver said when he was in the car he had to zone it out, but as soon as he stepped out it hit him hard. You could tell how emotional all of them were (but still focused on their goal), it was definitely a different atmosphere. Simonsen’s family wanted the crew and the race to press on. And they did. But as soon as it was over, it was a more bitter than sweet. Even the podium celebrations didn’t seem to have the usual fanfare. And you can’t read an article, listen to an interview, or watch a report about this race without the preface of Simonson’s death.
Personally, I am more aligned with your sentiment, that there could be a little more reverance shown. But they all know the risk, they know that tragedies are bound to happen. Perhaps it’s a written or unwritten rule, that if this should happen they agree they want the race to finish. If they stopped to really think about it, it would probably more dangerous for the drivers. I suppose it’s either cancel the race or press on until the finish.
First off, Le Mans has *always* continued after a fatality, for a very simple reason: The roads around the circuit that the spectators would be leaving on are very narrow and low capacity, and their departure would severely hamper the ability of the ambulance crews to get in and out. Even after the 1955 disaster, the race continued so that the emergency crews could get where they needed to go.
Second, he wasn’t dead at the time they started the cleanup; he died in the hospital after they’d restarted the race. And the fence at Tetre Rouge was restored to the same “pristine” condition for a very good reason; the damage to the fence was a serious danger to drivers. You wouldn’t leave a hole in a guardrail on the highway, would you? Kind of more important for race drivers.
Third, at least in the US, most team sports continue after an injury, no matter how severe, once the injured participant is removed to a hospital and cleanup is completed, as do individual sports that involve large groups of competitors at one time (as opposed to one-on-one sports like, say, tennis or boxing). That said, every time I’ve seen a *spectator* fatality at a race (excepting the 1955 Le Mans tragedy), the race has been terminated immediately; likewise the IndyCar finale in 2011 was officially cancelled once Dan Wheldon’s death was confirmed. Racing, however, is “the Cruel Sport,” the one with greater risk of death than any other except (maybe) bullriding, bullfighting, and professional boxing; one has to treat it as being like a battlefield. If someone dies, as a competitor, you take a moment to collect yourself, then get back to work–there’ll be time enough to mourn later.
Finally, Simonsen’s team seriously considered withdrawing its other four cars after getting the news of his death, but Simonsen’s family specifically requested that they NOT withdraw, and instead complete the race. The team chose to honor this request. If the family requested that his team continue, would it have made sense at all to end the entire race early?
I take no joy in watching a race when I know that one of the drivers died during the race. The teams feel only hollow joy at winning such a race. But I can turn off my television. For the teams, it’s a job–and at most jobs, work doesn’t stop just because someone was killed in an accident…
Not bad for a bunch of video gamers…
Prayers go to Simonsen family.
God speed Mr. Simonsen. Very unfortunate accident. I saw a puff of tire smoke in front of him before the crash, so I wonder if he was making corrections when he saw that as well. He lost the back end on the kerbs very soon after, and over corrected it. Sad day.
Congratulations to Lucas and Jann and the team. Also a sad day for motorsport in general. R.I.P. Allan Simonsen..
Congratulations to all the team and drivers, this was a great race on behalf of Gran-Turismo fans. I watched much of the live stream from Nismo TV on YouTube and was enjoyable to watch and listen to. A very good live stream service, I hope to see this quality of streaming or better for the next Nurburgring 24hr race.
An unfortunate day for one. A clear reminder for all that one of the overlooked aspect of motorsport through most peoples eyes is that you go out with no guarantee of coming back round again. R.I.P Allan Simonsen.
Good job boys…well done…the coverage was great..very tidy team effort ..cant wait to see you back on the track in future..
Congrats
The sound of the onboard on Toyota LMP1 was so magnificent !
This car is beautiful ! Tell us Yamauchi-san : we can expect it in GT6 ??? :D +Audi +Toyota LMP1
And all that GT cars ! I’ll love we can race it like in real life, with all competitors and been overtaked by LMP1 if we race in LMP2 and overtake all GT cars…
Congratulations fora ll the team ! I followed the most part of the race on Nismo Channel and i’ve enjoyed a lot the race and the “backwards” of the race.
I hope a normal race without that sad accident and without so many safety cars for 2014 and a battle for the 1st position.
My condolences… These guys are warriors man. God bless and Rest In Peace…