Kristensen Named Grand Marshal for LM24

Announced last week, Tom Kristensen has been named grand marshal for this year’s 83rd 24 Hours of Le Mans, in a fitting tribute to the record nine-time race winner in his first year out of the cockpit.

The Dane succeeds his long-term teammate, Allan McNish, who was the race’s grand marshal last year.

Kristensen retired from driving at the end of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship season, the last of the veteran drivers from Audi’s landmark period of sports car success at Le Mans over the last 15 years. Oliver Jarvis will fill his seat alongside Loic Duval and Lucas di Grassi this season.

As grand marshal, Kristensen is expected to lead the field to green before pulling off following the warm-up lap.

Kristensen remains with Audi as a consultant, and recently participated in the traditional Audi Sport Winter Camp in the Allgäu this week –in a new role.

He’s added new activities and training elements to the winter camp, to help Audi drivers continue to improve their fitness, and strike a balance between endurance and strength.