Tom Kristensen

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Tom Kristensen
24 Hours of Le Mans Career
Nationality	Danish
Participating years	1997 - 2006
Team(s)	Joest Racing, BMW Motorsport, Audi Sport Joest, Team Bentley, Audi Sport Goh, Champion Racing
Best Finish	1st (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Class Wins	7 (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

For the poet, see Tom Kristensen (poet).

Tom Kristensen (born 1967-07-07 in Hobro) is a Danish racing driver. He has won many championships in auto racing but his most famous achievement is being the first person to win the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times, six of which have been consecutive. In 1997, he won the race with the Joest Racing team, driving a Tom Walkinshaw Racing-designed and Porsche-powered WSC95.

In 2000, 2001, and 2002 he won the race with the powerful Audi R8 along with Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro, becoming the first three drivers since Jacky Ickx in 1977 to win the race on three straight occasions. In 2003, he won the race with Bentley. In 2004, he equaled Ickx's record of six Le Mans victories in Team Goh's Audi R8. 2005 saw Kristensen win a record seventh time with an American R8 entry. Kristensen finished in third place in 2006 in an Audi R10. The last three titles have been with new teammates each time.

Tom's career began in 1984, winning several karting titles. He raced in Japan in the early 90s, concurrently in Fomula 3 and Touring Cars. He was Japanese Formula 3 champion in 1993, and runner-up in JTCC in 1992 and 1994. He was 6th in Formula 3000 in both 1996 and 1997, and test driver for Tyrrell in their final Formula One season in 1998, and for Michelin as they prepared their F1 tyres using an older Williams car in 2000. He was 3rd in the STW Cup in Germany in 1999, 7th in the British Touring Car Championship in 2000, and winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring in both those years.

Preceded by Manuel Reuter Davy Jones Alexander Wurz	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1997 with: Michele Alboreto Stefan Johansson	Succeeded by Laurent Aïello Allan McNish Stéphane Ortelli
Preceded by Pierluigi Martini Yannick Dalmas Joachim Winkelhock	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2000 with: Frank Biela Emanuele Pirro	Succeeded by Frank Biela Tom Kristensen Emanuele Pirro
Preceded by Frank Biela Tom Kristensen Emanuele Pirro	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2001 with: Frank Biela Emanuele Pirro	Succeeded by Frank Biela Tom Kristensen Emanuele Pirro
Preceded by Frank Biela Tom Kristensen Emanuele Pirro	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2002 with: Frank Biela Emanuele Pirro	Succeeded by Tom Kristensen Rinaldo Capello Guy Smith
Preceded by Frank Biela Tom Kristensen Emanuele Pirro	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2003 with: Rinaldo Capello Guy Smith	Succeeded by Seiji Ara Tom Kristensen Rinaldo Capello
Preceded by Tom Kristensen Rinaldo Capello Guy Smith	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2004 with: Seiji Ara Rinaldo Capello	Succeeded by J.J. Lehto Marco Werner Tom Kristensen
Preceded by Seiji Ara Tom Kristensen Rinaldo Capello	Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2005 with: J.J. Lehto Marco Werner	Succeeded by Frank Biela Emanuele Pirro Marco Werner