Allan Simonsen suffered a devastating crash in the early moment of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2013.
Piloting the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE, the 34-year-old Dane started from pole at the GTE Am class but lost control of his vehicle at Tertre Rouge.
A violent collision, carbon fiber shards scattered across the road, prompting a safety car yellow flag moment.
First responders rushed to the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE and desperately removed Allan Simonsen from the wreck. Simonsen was escorted to the medical center via ambulance, where he was tragically pronounced dead.
Le Mans governing body ACO offered the following statement.
At 15h09 the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE, driven by Allan Simonsen of Denmark, exited the track at high-speed at the Tertre Rouge corner on his fourth lap of the race.
The driver was immediately attended on the scene by the doctors from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Medical Service.
In a serious condition, Allan Simonsen was transferred immediately to the circuit medical centre, where he died soon after.
Allan Simonsen's family has been informed immediately by David Richards, principal of Aston Martin Racing.
A Le Mans veteran, Simonsen was racing at Le Mans for the seventh time in his career. However, wet conditions during the early stages of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will catch even the most talented of racing drivers. the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE grabbed too much curb at a corner exit and too much throttle was probably applied before the car found grip. Overcorrecting in an attempt to catch the slide, Simonsen's Aston Martin spun into the gravel and into the barriers.
A terrible loss, Allan Simonsen's death marks the first fatality at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since a pre-qualifying accident claimed the life of Sebastien Enjolras in 1997.
Finally, watch the crash that claimed the life of Allan Simonsen below. Viewer's discretion is advised.
Special thanks to iMotor Times reader John Ormerod, who informed us of the sad news.
