Record-breaking Dane will wave flag for IMSA and WEC races in March
February 3, 2020
Staff Report
IMSA Wire Service
Daytona Beach, Fla. – One
of the greatest names in the history of international sports car
racing, Tom Kristensen, has today been named as Grand Marshal for
SuperSebring.
The record-breaking Dane will wave the
green flag for both the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 1000 Miles of
Sebring on Friday, March 20, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship’s headline 68th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts on Saturday, March 21.
“It’s
a great honor to be named Grand Marshal for both events and I can’t
wait to be back at Sebring,” Kristensen said. “The particular challenges
of this historic track are still clear in my mind, and the event always
has such fantastic competitors and fans! I consider myself very lucky
to have won the 12-hour race seven times and have so many great memories
of incredible battles over the years. You have to be tough to win at
Sebring – both the car and the driver – and the slogan “Respect the
bumps” is one of the truest in all motorsport.”
Known
affectionately as “Mr. Le Mans,” the 2013 World Endurance Champion
holds the record for the most overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
(1997, 2000-2005, 2008, 2013) and at the Twelve Hours of Sebring (1999,
2000, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012). The same as for last year’s Grand
Marshal, Allan McNish, Kristensen’s last victory at Sebring – alongside
the Scot and Dindo Capello – was on the occasion of the WEC’s first ever
race on March 18, 2012.
The
naming of Tom Kristensen as Grand Marshal comes one week after the
historic IMSA-ACO convergence announcement at the Rolex 24 At Daytona,
the one race during an illustrious career in which he never participated
despite being a long-time ambassador for Rolex.
“Tom
Kristensen earned legendary status in endurance racing through his many
successes at both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours
of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts,” IMSA President John Doonan
said. “His records at both events may never be broken, making him a
natural choice for this prestigious honor. We’re proud to welcome Tom as
the Grand Marshal for SuperSebring 2020. With our recent historic
announcement of convergence at the Rolex 24, Tom is the perfect example
of a driver who has competed on both major stages that will soon become
one common top platform.”
Kristensen
has the distinction of winning in every category of motorsport in which
he has raced, and has chalked up countless international wins and
championships including the German and Japanese F3 championships in his
earlier days and the 2001 American Le Mans Series and 2013 FIA World
Endurance Championship in the second half of his career. He has also
raced successfully in F3000, Formula Nippon, DTM, British Touring Cars
and was a test driver in Formula One.
“There are many endurance drivers who
have achieved success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Sebring, but there
is only one Mr Le Mans,” WEC CEO Gérard Neveu said. “Tom’s incredible
career speaks for itself and his record number of victories at Sebring
as well as Le Mans make him the perfect Grand Marshal for this second
consecutive SuperSebring event. We are truly delighted that he has
agreed to take on this role, and we know that he will be greeted by
everyone around the track with the respect and admiration that he
deserves.”
NBC Sports’ coverage of the Mobil 1 Twelve
Hours of Sebring begins on CNBC at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 21
and includes a seven-and-a-half-hour window on NBCSN. Complete,
flag-to-flag coverage also is available with cable or satellite
authentication on the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com, and to TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold subscribers.
IMSA Radio will have live coverage
throughout the weekend on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com, with complete
race coverage also airing on SiriusXM Radio.
Tickets are available now from SebringRaceway.com.
