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The Great Drivers |
Tom KRISTENSEN
7 times winner (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Tom was born on the
7th July 1967 in Hobro, Denmark, the son of Carl-Erik Kristensen, who
was, and still is, an active racing driver. It is no surprise therefore that Tom
was introduced to motor racing at an early stage, and through that he got the
full support from his family when he started in go-karts.
By 1983 he was the Danish junior go-kart champion, and by 1986 was the senior champion, the next year he finished second in the world championship.
After taking a break from racing due to his education, he returned in 1991 in the German Formula 3 championship as a works driver for VW. He also finished second in the Japanese Touring Car Championship (driving a Nissan Skyline) and 2nd in the final of the Japanese Group C Championship in a Toyota TSO10.
In 1993 he won the Japanese Formula 3 championship with five victories, and won the FIA Formula 3 World Fina in Fuji, Japan. By 1994 he had moved to Formula 3000 where he finished ninth in the Japanese Championship, and he was also runner up in the Japanese Touring car Championship. In 1995 he shared 2nd in The Japanese Formula Nippon Championship (Formula 3000), and was 5th in the Japanese Touring car Championship.
By 1996 he had finished sixth in the FIA Formula 3000 European Championship but was also a Test driver for Toyota (Le Mans P1) and of Indy car for Bettenhausen.
In 1997 he won the 24-hours Le Mans for Joest Porsche, with Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson, where he recorded the fastest lap. He also tested Formula 1 for Miranda (Barcelona, Spaniel) and competed in the Japanese GT Championship for Toyota.
In 1998 he was the spare driver in Formula 1 for Tyrrell/BAR.and drove at Le Mans 24-hours for BMW-Motorsport, which retired with a wheel bearing after 4 hours.
He won the
"12 Hours of Sebring" USA in 1999 driving a BMW. He was also leading the Le Mans
24 Hours the first 20 hours by 4 laps. However he did not finish because of a
sticking throttle. He also had a Formula 1 test for Williams.
In 2000 he joins Audi: and wins the "12 Hours at Sebring" USA and the 24 Hours at Le Mans. He was also the Michelin F1-test driver for Williams and Jaguar
In 2001 he was winner of 24 hours of Le Mans (Audi Sport Team Joest) and runner-up in 12 hours of Sebring.
In 2002 he completed a hat trick of wins for Audi and his fourth overall Le Mans win, making him already one of the legends of Le Mans.
In 2003 he joined the Bentley team and won again, his fifth, and he became the first man ever to win Le Mans four times in succession. In 2004 he won for a record equalling sixth time (five in succession), in a Japanese-entered Team Goh Audi R8.
In 2005 he won again in an Audi to become the greatest driver ever.
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