#111 Tom Kristensen

Some drivers show up a lot more than others in my collection because they raced the most beautiful sports cars of which I collected a model car. So I decided to do these drivers honor by adding collections in which the driver is the main topic.
This collection is dedicated to Tom Kristensen, known as ‘Mr. Le Mans’ because he won the event 9 times and scored another 5 podiums.


Junior categories

Tom began karting in 1984 and won several karting titles, including the 1985 Nordic Formula A series where he beat Mika Häkkinen.

In 1987 he also started in Formula Ford 1600 and in 1989 Tom raced a few events in the German Formula 3 championship. He didn’t race in 1990, but in 1991 het drove the entire season for the team of Bertram Schäfer and took the championship.

Having trouble to find a good seat in Europe, Tom moved to Japan where he raced Formula 3, touring cars and Formula 3000. Tom won the 1993 Japanese Formula 3 championship.


JTCC Nissan

1993 Japanese Touring Car Championship Fuji, Nissan Skyline. When the Nissan Skyline R32 entered the Japanese Touring Car Championship, a period of absolute dominance began. The R32 won every race between March 1990 and October 1993. The last one was the Fuji 500 km which was won by Tom Kristensen. From 1994 the JTCC was contested by 2-liter super touring cars, the Skylines switched to JGTC.
#11 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Hisashi Yokoshima (J) – 1st
Object-T Nissan Skyline GTS-R R32 – Group A JTCC-1. Powered by 2.6 liter Nissan RB26DETT- straight-6, approx. 550 hp. Bridgestone tires. Weight 1400 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BNR32 #unknown

  • EBBRO 44156 (diecast)

Formula 3000, Formula 1

Back in Europe, Tom raced several seasons in Formula 3000, German and British touring cars and was test driver for Tyrrell Formula 1. In between this, he already was asked to drive at Le Mans and with success.


Joest WSC-Porsche

1997 Le Mans 24h, WSC95-Porsche. The chassis’ that Tom Walkinshaw originally built for Jaguar, were bought by Joest and equipped with Porsche 962 engines. In the previous year it managed to win at Le Mans, and in 1997 the #7 car managed to win again. This time in the well know white and red from FAT. It was the first of many Le Mans wins for Tom Kristensen.
#7 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Michele Alboreto (I) / Stefan Johansson (S) – 1st
Joest WSC-95 – LMP1. Powered by 3.0 liter Porsche 935/86 flat-6 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 930 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. TWR / WSC #001

  • TROFÉU 905 (diecast)

BMW

  • MINICHAMPS BMW 80 42 9 422 941 (diecast)

1999 Le Mans test, BMW V12 LMR. BMW entered three cars for the test day of this year’s Le Mans. #16 was a real Art Car designed by German artist Jenny Holzer. It didn’t compete in the 24-hour race where BMW only entered the #15 and #17 cars, not without success.
#16 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Joachim Winkelhock (D) – 5th
BMW V12 LMR LMP1. Powered by 6.0 liter BMW S70/3 V12 60º, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Williams #004/99


  • ONYX Le Mans Collection XLM 99020 (diecast)

Audi

2000 Sebring 12h, Joest Audi R8. The first race of the new Audi R8 in its new colors. Audi entered two cars in the American Le Mans Series because the FIA Sports Car Championship was a joke. The team was managed by Joest but the official entrant was Audi Sport North America. They had to compete against two BMW V12 LMR’s that won Le Mans in 1999 and drove a last season in the ALMS. Audi’s took the first two places, BMW came home in 3rd just 1 lap down and 4th (2 laps down), the local American competition was 20 laps down. It showed how strong the new Audi’s were.
#78 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Frank Biela (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 1st
Joest Audi R8 (2000) – LMP 900. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. Audi / Dallara #402

  • SPARK 00SE78 (resin)

2000 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R8. Many factory teams quit after 1999; Mercedes, BMW, Toyota … Porsche already one year before. So it’s tempting to say that Audi had it easy. The Audi’s had more than 25 laps on their closest rivals, so the competition was weak, but the performance of the Audi R8’s was stunning; all three Audi’s matched or improved the number of laps of the winning BMW in 1999.
#7 Michele Alboreto (I) / Rinaldo Capello (I) / Christian Abt (D) – 3rd
#8 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Frank Biela (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 1st
#9 Allan McNish (GB) / Stephane Ortelli (MC) / Laurent Aiello (F) – 2nd
Joest Audi R8 (2000) – LMP 900. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. Audi / Dallara #403, #404 & #405

  • MINICHAMPS Audi Audi 2.00.000.00969, 2.00.000.00970 & Audi 2.00.000.00971

2001 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R8. In 2000, the red Audi won in front of the yellow one. The black was third. In 2001 Joest Audi entered only two cars, additionally, both Stefan Johansson and Champion Racing had a 2000 spec Audi R8. Again the red Audi won, the yellow was second. The Audi based Bentley was third. The race was run in torrential rain and only 321 laps were completed against 369 in the previous year.
#1 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Frank Biela (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) / – 1st
Joest Audi R8 (2001) – LMP 900. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. Audi / Dallara #501

  • IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars LM001 & LM002 (diecast)

2002 Sebring 12h, Joest Audi R8. The 2002 season began again in Sebring. Both Joest cars were equipped with the new direct injection FSI engine. The 2002 Sebring race was won by the yellow #2 Audi in front of the 2001-spec Champion Audi. The #1 car with Tom Kristensen only finished 5th this time.
#1 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Frank Biela (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 5th
Joest Audi R8 (2002) – LMP 900. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 610 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. Audi / Dallara #602 & #603

  • MINICHAMPS MC400 021391 (diecast)

2002 Le Mans 24h, Joest Audi R8. Everything remained the same. he only difference with 2001 was that Audi again entered three works cars. These filled the entire podium and even the following order was unchanged; red – yellow – black. Tom Kristensen takes the flag with both hands in the air!
#1 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Frank Biela (D) / Emanuele Pirro (I) – 1st
Joest Audi R8 (2002) – LMP 900. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 610 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. Audi / Dallara #601

  • IXO Le Mans 24 Heures LM002 (diecast)

2003 Spa-Francorchamps 1000km Spa Francorchamps, Audi R8. Team Goh participated under the flag of Audi Belgian in this race.Tom Kristensen joined the Japanese team and won this combined FIA Sports Car Championship and British GT Championship race with ease.
#25 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Seiji Ara (J) – 1st
Goh Audi R8 (2002) – LMP 900. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #602

  • MINICHAMPS MC430 031325 (diecast)

2003 Le Mans 24h, Bentley Speed 8. Joest Audi didn’t participate at Le Mans, the star drivers such as Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello were available for Bentley. Also, the privateer teams that raced Audi R8 showed somewhat less pace than in previous years, probably Michelin played a role in this. The way was clear for Bentley to win Le Mans and they did with a double podium and even completed 2 laps more than the winning Audi in the previous year. Mission accomplished and Bentley disappeared again from the circuits.
#7 Le Mans Tom Kristensen (DK) / Rinaldo Capello (I) / Guy Smith (GB) – 1st
Bentley Speed 8 – GTP. Powered by 4.0 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. RTN #004/3

  • MINICHAMPS MC430 031307 (diecast)

2004 Le Mans 24h, Team Goh Audi R8. The semi-works Audi’s from Team Veloqx, Champion Racing and Team Goh were the favorites in this year’s Le Mans. One of the Veloqx cars crashed, so did the Champion car. The battle went on between the remaining Veloqx Audi and this Audi Japan car, in which Tom Kristensen won his 6th Le Mans.
#5 Tom Kristensen (DK) / Seiji Ara (J) / Rinaldo Capello (I) – 1st
Goh Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #602

  • IXO Le Mans winners LM2004 (diecast)

2005 Sebring 12h, Champion racing Audi R8. The only competition that the Audi North America / Champion Racing Audi’s had was from their own teammates. Since Joest isn’t participating, all the works drivers includingTom Kristensen now drive for Champion. The #1 is the winning car, their teammates finished less than 7 seconds behind. The advantage on the third placed Lola was no less than 20 laps.
#1 Tom Kristensen (DK) / J.J. Lehto (FIN) / Marco Werner (D) – 1st
Champion Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #605

  • MINICHAMPS MC400 051301 limited 1008 pcs & MC400 051302 limited 1008 pcs (diecast)

2005 Le Mans 24h, Champion Racing Audi R8. The new aerodynamic rules penalized the Audi’s and now they had stiff competition from the Pescarolo’s which profited more from the new rules. But in the end it were Audi and #3 that won. The second Champion Audi had to settle for 3rd place as one of the Pescarolo’s slipped to second.
#3 Tom Kristensen (DK) / J.J. Lehto (FIN) / Marco Werner (D) – 1st
Champion Audi R8 (2002) – LMP1. Powered by 3.6 liter Audi V8 twin turbo, approx. 550 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi / Dallara #605

  • IXO Le Mans winners LM2005 (diecast)

  • MINICHAMPS MC400 061602 (diecast)

  • MINICHAMPS Audi Collection Audi 502.06.010.13 & 502.06.010.23 (diecast)

  • SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.08.002.23 (resin)

  • IXO Modern Le Mans & GT Cars GTM088 (diecast)

  • SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.09.002.13 (resin)

  • IXO 24 heures du Mans LMM136 (diecast)

  • SPARK Quattro GmbH Audi 502.11.001.43 (resin)

  • SPARK Le Mans winners 43LM13 (resin)

DTM

2004 DTM Championship, Audi A4 DTM. The German Touringcar Masters DTM is one of the most popular racing series in Europe. Mercedes, Opel and Audi compete with top teams and drivers. Seven time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen shows he is not only good in endurance but very fast too, finishing 4th in his debut year in DTM.
#12 Tom Kristensen (DK) – 4th
Abt Sportsline Audi A4 DTM – DTM. Powered by 4.0 liter Audi V8, approx. 470 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel space frame with carbon safety cell, chassisnr. Audi R11 #unknown

  • MINICHAMPS MC400 041412 limited 1824 pcs (diecast)

  • MINICHAMPS MC400 069607 limited 1584 pcs (diecast)

2008 DTM Championship, Audi A4 DTM. “Mister Le Mans” Tom Kristensen finished 3rd in DTM in 2005 and 2006 and was one of the favorites for 2007. But that season was ruined by a severe crash at Hockenheim. In 2008 he drove the whole season but only managed 3 third places. Not a bad result, but it only brought him the 8th position in the championship.
#9 Tom Kristensen (DK) – 8th
Abt Sportsline Audi A4 DTM – DTM. Powered by 4.0 liter Audi V8 90º injection, approx. 460 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 980 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Audi R14 unknown

  • MINICHAMPS Quattro GmbH Audi 502.08.001.43 (diecast)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *