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Danish racing legend calls it quits

Tom Kristensen said "the time is right" to end his historic racing career, announcing that his last race will be later this month.

Published: 19 November 2014 14:25 CET
Danish racing legend calls it quits
Tom Kristensen. Photo: Audi Motorsport
Nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen announced his retirement from racing on Wednesday. 
 
“I feel like I have hit my goals. I’ve been told that you can just feel it when the time is right. I couldn’t until now, but over the past few months the feeling has grown stronger,” Kristensen said at a Copenhagen press conference. 
 
The 47-year-old Kristensen holds the record for the most 24 Hours of Le Mans wins of all time with nine, including six consecutive victories from 2000-2005. 
 
Kristensen’s final race will be the Six Hours of Sao Paolo race on November 30th. 
 
"I have chosen to announce my retirement now in order to be able to say a proper goodbye to the sport I love so much at our last race in Sao Paolo in Brazil," he explained.
 
Kristensen has driven for Audi since 2000 and will stay on at the German manufacturers in an ambassadorial role.

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FORMULA ONE

Italy’s Ferrari chases Formula One title with new 2018 racing car

Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen insisted the new halo on Ferrari's 2018 car would not hinder performance as the Italian stable chases a first Formula One title in a decade.

Published: 23 February 2018 16:22 CET
Italy's Ferrari chases Formula One title with new 2018 racing car
Ferrari's new SF71H. Photo: Ferrari press office/AFP

The halo-fitted SF71H was presented at the team's headquarters in Maranello, four days before the start of pre-season testing at Barcelona.

For the fourth consecutive year 38-year-old Raikkonen and four-time world champion Vettel, 30, will spearhead the Scuderia's campaign.

“The halo looks different but to be honest we tried it last year and it wasn't a big difference,” Raikkonen said.

Vettel added: “I don't think the halo will bother, I think it's much less intrusive than I thought. We will all get used to using it.”

The Ferrari drivers' approach to the halo was in stark contrast to that of Tito Wolff, the team boss of bitter rivals and defending world champions Mercedes who earlier in the day said he couldn't stand the sight of the controversial head protection device.

“I'm not impressed with the whole thing and if you give me a chainsaw I would take it off,” said Wolf, who complained about the weight of the new device, at his team's official launch.

“I think we need to look after the driver's safety, but what we have implemented is aesthetically not appealing and we need to come up with a solution that simply looks better.”

Ferrari's new car is painted in the traditional red livery, but unlike its predecessors with very little white.

“[The car] looks nice and usually when it looks nice, there's speed also,” added Raikkonen.

“Our goal is to always be faster. The car is excellent and next week we will know something more and we will understand how much work there is still to do,” added the Finn.

The new challenger has a longer wheelbase to move it more into line with rival Mercedes' design.

“We have kept the aggressive concepts. The SF71H has a tighter car body and has been built to perform in high-speed circuits,” said Ferrari's technical director, Mattia Binotto.

Ferrari were second in the 2017 championship and this season will bid to challenge four-time holders Mercedes.

“We're capable, I'm certain,” said team principal Maurizio Arrivabene.

Ferrari have not won the constructors' title since 2008, with Raikkonen last winning the drivers title for Ferrari in 2007.

READ ALSO: For first time in 30 years, Italy's Alfa Romeo will return to Formula 1

All photos: Ferrari press office via AFP.