Aston Martin Driver Allan Simonsen Dies at 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans took a somber turn early on in the race today when Aston Martin driver Allan Simonsen died following a crash about 10 minutes into the race.
The 34-year-old Danish driver was behind the wheel of the number-95 Aston Martin when the car spun at high speed and skidded into a barrier. Simonsen passed away at the hospital soon after his arrival due to his injuries according to race organizers. This is the first driver fatality at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1986.
The British automaker is continuing the race “at the specific request” of Simonsen’s family and in tribute to the driver. This was Simonsen’s seventh time racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He recorded the fastest time in qualifying on Thursday in the GTE-Am class.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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