24h Le Mans
Though Tom Kristensen is the undisputed and undeniable king of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (nine wins) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (six wins), the former official Audi driver has never taken the start of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, a void he is tempted to fill.
Audi and Rolex ambassador, Tom Kristensen possesses at least nine of the watchmaker's timepieces as a model is given to each overall winner at Le Mans. Nonetheless, there remains one watch the Dane would like to sport: the one offered to winners at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Grand Marshal of the 2015 edition of the 24-hour race in Florida, Kristensen was present during the official dinner hosted by Rolex the evening before the race, as was Chip Ganassi, owner of the oufit of the same name, who entered among others the Fords in GTLM and two Riley-Fords in the Prototype class. Ganassi signed a document in which he wrote that he would enter a car in the Rolex 24 at Daytona for Allan (McNish) and Tom (Kristensen) when they reach 55 years old!
The Scot, who would also like to take the start at Daytona, nor Tom Kristensen, have yet reached that age, but Kristensen declared during the soirée on Friday: "My Dad (deceased in 2013, editor's note) always said 'never say never' and if I was tempted back, Daytona would be the venue." But, the Danish driver did reiterate he is definitely retired and if he returned for Daytona, it would be strictly for the pleasure.
Kristensen has not yet accepted Chip Ganassi's offer, but will he wait until he turns 55 before entering the Rolex 24 at Daytona?
Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
PHOTO: DAYTONA BEACH (FLORIDA, U.S.), DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP, ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA, SUNDAY JANUARY 31 2016, PODIUM. Tom Kristensen gave the winner's trophy to ESM as the Grand Marshal of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
