Motor racing: Audi win tragedy-marred Le Mans race

Audi recorded their 12th win in the Le Mans 24 hour race on Sunday but it was a victory overshadowed by the death of Danish driver Allan Simonsen.

Simonsen’s compatriot Tom Kristensen, 45, was part of the winning trio of drivers extending his all-time record of nine victories in the historic race but first since 2008.

Kristensen’s team-mates were Scotsman Allan McNish, tasting victory for the third time, and Frenchman Loic Duval, who was winning for the first time.

Simonsen, 34, died as a result of injuries he suffered after a horror high-speed crash at the wheel of an Aston Martin on Saturday.

A brief tribute was paid to Simonsen before the podium ceremony on Sunday by six-time winner Jacky Ickx and Pierre Fillon the president of the organising committee.

The Audi – which gave the manufacturer their fourth successive win and 11th in the last 13 editions – came home a lap clear of the Toyota, whose trio of drivers were Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin and former Formula One duo England’s Anthony Davidson and Swiss Sebastien Buemi.

Audi’s two-time defending champions Marcel Fässler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer had led the race until they came to a halt in front of the stands late on Saturday night and lost 43 minutes while they changed their alternator.