Tom Kristensen

Lore & Background

Elsewhere, Kristensen holds the record for most wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring with a total of six. In August 2014, Kristensen was appointed Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog by the Queen of Denmark. In January 2018, he was inducted into the Danish Sports Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

Early career: Beginnings in Europe (1984–91): Kristensen was born in Hobro. His career began in 1984, whereafter he won several karting titles, including the 1985 Nordic Formula A series where he beat Mika Häkkinen. After entering his first open-wheel races in Formula Ford during 1987, Kristensen made his German Formula Three debut at Brno in 1989, entering three events. Aside from that however, Kristensen did not race until 1991, completing training to become a bank clerk.

In 1991, he was given the chance to race in German F3 on a full-time basis by Bertram Schäfer and won the opening race at Zolder from pole. From there, seven further podiums, including two more wins at the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring, allowed Kristensen to win the championship in controlling fashion. Move to Japan (1992–95): Subsequently, Kristensen relocated his racing career to Japan, where he drove concurrently in Japanese Formula 3 and the Japanese Touring Car Championship; he would score his maiden win in the latter at Suzuka and finished second in the teams' standings.

He also made his Japanese Formula 3000 debut during 1992. The following year, Kristensen drove in Japanese F3 and the JTCC again, taking a dominant title in the former driving for the TOM'S outfit. In 1994, driving for Toyota Team Cerumo, Kristensen won at Sugo, twice at Suzuka, and twice at Aida to place second in the JTCC once again. He lost out on the title to Masanori Sekiya by a single point.

Additionally, Kristensen finished ninth in his first full-time season of Japanese Formula 3000, driving for Navi Connection Racing. For his final year in Japan, 1995, Kristensen contested both championships with team Cerumo: he won thrice in the JTCC and finished fifth in the championship, whilst claiming his maiden victory in Japanese F3000 at the Mine Circuit to finish the season third. International F3000 (1996–97): Kristensen returned to Europe in 1996, entering the International F3000 Championship with Shannon Racing.

However, following just two rounds which included a pole at the Pau Grand Prix, which ended in a mid-race accident, Kristensen left the team. He contested five of the remaining eight rounds with Edenbridge Racing, finishing second at Silverstone and scoring third at Spa-Francorchamps after another pole position; this left him seventh in the standings.