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Partnered with Rinaldo Capello and Seiji Ara, the former American Le Mans Series Champion, Tom Kristensen, co-drove the Audi Sport Team Goh entry to victory in the 72nd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The winning team crossing the line less than a minute before the second-place car of Johnny Herbert, Jamie Davies and Guy Smith - also in an Audi R8 - setting the record for the closest finish at La Sarthe since 1969.
Audi Team Goh was not alone at the top. In fact, Audis swept the podium once again this year, giving the German constructor this fourth great honour in just five years. Audis held the top three finishes at the famous eight-and-a-half-mile circuit in 2000, 2001, 2002 and now again in 2004. The impressive Audi feat wasn't without its troubles however. In an unlikely incident during the first two hours of the race, two of the four near-identical Audi R8s, collided. The pair hit a patch of water and oil, sustaining a substantial amount of damage. Both were repaired, and would return to the track, with one climbing its way back to third overall. Even the leading two Audi teams didn't finish without their fair share of problems. Along with the suspension problems the Audi Sport UK was faced with, Audi Team Goh also had to fix brake problems early in the race, cure a misfire during the night and even fight a flash fire in the pits during the closing stages. By the end of the day, Kristensen had moved ahead of five-time winner Derek Bell and joined the great Jacky Ickx in becoming the only two drivers to have won the historic 24 Hour endurance classic six times. He managed this impressive feat in just eight starts - the last five of which were consecutive wins. This in itself was quite the feat. The 36-year-old Dane broke the previous record set at four consecutive wins, which he himself had accomplished after last year's win. Go To Page: 1 |
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