Tom Kristensen is thrilled by new Audi R8
- Le Mans record winner drives Audi sports car privately
- Kristensen: “The Audi R8 is pure passion for me”
- Dane clinched five victories at Le Mans in the racing version
Tom Kristensen and the Audi R8 – this was, and continues to be, a very special relationship. Five of his so far seven victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans the Dane clinched in the successful Audi sports car. So it was high time for the Audi factory driver to start piloting the road-going racer – that shares the name with its “big brother” from motorsport – privately as well. Now Kristensen took possession of his personal, private R8 in Ingolstadt.
In addition to the name, the production sports car also inherited the genes of the legendary racer. “For me, the R8 is pure passion, a hundred per cent of which stems from the Le Mans winner,” raves Tom Kristensen, who competes for Audi not only in the famous French endurance race but also in the DTM, the most popular international touring car series. “Or, to put it in a nutshell: It’s an absolute dream car for me. I achieved all my Le Mans victories for Audi in the R8, that’s why it’s a very special thing for me to drive it privately now as well.”
With the 420-hp sports car as well as his “company car”, an Audi RS 4, the Dane now has the appropriate equipment. “Audi not only builds fantastic race cars but great road cars as well. Even though their horsepower may at times be a bit much for my native Denmark…,” says Kristensen with a smile.