- 17,425
- Corneria City
- Orbital_Goat
2013 Le Mans death: RIP Allan Simonsen.
- Thread starter photonrider
- 57 comments
- 10,517 views
- 528
- Aalborg
- JulleGaard
Sad Le Mans indeed.
The whole race felt pointless after the announcement of Allan's death and can't stop thinking about his girlfriend and little daughter. My thoughts and condolences goes to his family and friends.
Rest in peace Allan.
The whole race felt pointless after the announcement of Allan's death and can't stop thinking about his girlfriend and little daughter. My thoughts and condolences goes to his family and friends.
Rest in peace Allan.
- 84
- Tennessee
- lpfuelfan42
- lpfuelfan42
It was so sad to hear of his passing yesterday. Proud of Aston Martin for fighting on at the request of his family. May he rest in peace.
- 185
- Helsinki
- RattijuoppoFIN
I would like express my condolences to Allan and his young daughter and wife and all of his family. You were an explicit driver and talent and you will be greatly missed.
Allan Simonsen 1978-2013
Allan Simonsen 1978-2013
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- 2,170
- Sydney
- Inferno_251
From this year's Le Mans discussion thread:
RIP Allan Simonsen. You will not be forgotten...
(Credit to RACECAR for the image 👍)
I have not felt as emotional at the end of a race in a long time, if ever. Last time I saw a fatal crash live was Henry Surtees in Brand Hatch F2. It bites every time, my heart sunk on that podium.
Congrats to everyone who finished, Vipers, OAK cars, Toyota, Aston, Audi, the GT Academy boys... everyone. It's been great covering the 90th Anniversary of Le Mans, great community here, thank you all, i'll be back next year, but i'll sign off with a tribute made by GTP's very own RACECAR.
RIP Allan Simonsen.
RIP Allan Simonsen. You will not be forgotten...
(Credit to RACECAR for the image 👍)
- 570
- Melbourne
- DominusAnderson
To show my respect, I made a tribute to our fallen driver.
May you R.I.P Allan Simonsen
May you R.I.P Allan Simonsen
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
As you may remember, whilst we were watching the 2011 Le Mans, there were huge crashes that shocked the heck out of us - and the drivers still walked away.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jun/11/allan-mcnish-le-mans-crash
But there were so many strange factors that came together that day - his car was awfully fast, and that tree just happened to grow there.. . .
I'm going to miss hearing that name. RIP Leffler, too - another shocker for NASCAR fans.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jun/11/allan-mcnish-le-mans-crash
But there were so many strange factors that came together that day - his car was awfully fast, and that tree just happened to grow there.. . .
I'm going to miss hearing that name. RIP Leffler, too - another shocker for NASCAR fans.
- 9,054
- Murica
- BasedAckbar
They say Lady Luck is a fickle woman.
braunracing88
(Banned)
- 908
- Troy, MI, USA
- braunracing88
I'm sure Allan and Aston Martin Racing themselves would approve of this video. Great job.
- 86,851
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
I've just been combing through my photos and I was a bit spooked by a shot I took. I don't know whether to be proud that I got it or... creeped out and depressed a bit by what it represents.
Allan Simonsen, leaving the Esses to the approach of Tertre Rouge on lap 3...
Allan Simonsen, leaving the Esses to the approach of Tertre Rouge on lap 3...
- 3,019
- Essex
Famine
Thats a great photo. I'm finding it hard to watch the video I took of the start knowing shortly after I took it he had the crash. The drivers (especially the other Aston Martin drivers) have my utmost respect for carrying on. Amazing stuff.
Being at the circuit when it was announced will always be one of the strangest things I've ever experienced and will always remain very strong in my memory. Words just can't describe the change in the atmosphere, everyone just seemed so down.
R.I.P Allan Simonsen.
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- 491
- Manchester, UK
- karl53
That photo is.....moving, to say the least Famine.
And Drax's video too for that matter.
Thing is, this was the first time I've seen a fatal crash as it happened, and it hit me like a brick, more so than when I heard about Dan Wheldon, Henry Surtees, or anyone else. Man I'd hate to imagine what his friends and family must be going through
.
And Drax's video too for that matter.
Thing is, this was the first time I've seen a fatal crash as it happened, and it hit me like a brick, more so than when I heard about Dan Wheldon, Henry Surtees, or anyone else. Man I'd hate to imagine what his friends and family must be going through
.
- 3,019
- Essex
http://blog.parathyroid.com/race-car-deaths-medical-causes-racing-deaths/
Not entirely sure if this is completely appropriate for this thread but it does look into the possible cause of Simonsens death. As well as different causes/effects of fatal crashes. An interesting read.
Not entirely sure if this is completely appropriate for this thread but it does look into the possible cause of Simonsens death. As well as different causes/effects of fatal crashes. An interesting read.
- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
While a great tribute, that isn't really AUP-friendly...
Daily Sports Car has posted a bit of a Bio on Allan's racing career...
http://www.dailysportscar.com/?p=9172
- 5,164
- Manila
- jkty1029
Darn.
- 36,638
- Scotland
- GTP_daan
I've just remembered I have a picture of Allan from the 2008 British GT round at Knockhill.
Ferrari F430 by GTRdaan, on Flickr
Hope those "Christians in Motorsport" are looking after him now...
Ferrari F430 by GTRdaan, on Flickr
Hope those "Christians in Motorsport" are looking after him now...
- 5,551
- Controls set for heart of sun
- GTP_RogerTheHors
I'd be proud. While the image in context is very poignant and melancholic, it really is a beautiful image in itself. A very fitting tribute, I would say.
The reason drivers usually walk away from the crashes that appear spectacular, and yet sometimes, sadly, succumb to injuries sustained from relatively minor looking ones is that in general the things that make the crash look spectacular are things actually in the favour of the driver's safety.
Take Allan McNish's 2011 crash for example. The car left the track at high speed, spinning and somersaulting through the air, before eventually coming to a halt when it hit the tyre wall. The crash consisted of a series of smaller impacts, first with the Ferrari, then the ground, then the tyre wall.
Each of these smaller impacts took yet more energy away from the car, but in turn caused the outer parts of the car (as they are designed to in such occurrences, I might add) to break up, which made the extent of the accident and damage appear far greater than they really were. This breakup absorbed a lot of the impact energy, slowing the car down "gently"; while the final, largest impact, was with the tyre wall, which deformed and acted as a cushion for the car, meaning the severity of the accident, although race ending, was no where near as great as it might appear.
However the driver's cockpit was left intact, and none of the impacts were severe enough to do McNish any real damage. When I saw that crash on the TV I could tell McNish would probably be fine, and I was far more worried for the bank of photographers behind the barrier, in case they might have been hit by debris. Fortunately they weren't.
Simonsen had a heavy impact effectively with a tree, with the car coming to a very sudden stop from about 100MPH; and I could tell, I am afraid to say, that when I saw the crash I knew he wasn't going to be in a good way. Alas, he was far worse off than one would hope in this modern safety age.
RIP Allan
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braunracing88
(Banned)
- 908
- Troy, MI, USA
- braunracing88
And as expected, circuit safety has come to the fore. Some have even suggested SAFER barriers like what's fitted on oval tracks here in the States.
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130624/ALMS/130629917
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130624/ALMS/130629917
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- 7,511
- Lisbon,Portugal
- beerzgood
The cause of Allan's unfortunate death was, according to Eduardo Freitas himself (he told me last weekend in Circuito da Boavista during the WTCC during lunch) indeed the fact that that tree is just too close to the guard-rails and they barely deformed to absorb the crash, therefore making Allan's car smashing against the tree and decelerating way faster than it would otherwise, like stated in the post above.
From then on, Eduardo sent in the Safety cars on the track to repai any and all damage made by crashes to avoid anything that could be avoided in terms of risks to the drivers, he isn't even very fond of safety cars - usually he prefers yellow flags or at best full course caution - , but in light of what had happened, he decided to opt for the safest thing until the end of the race.
From then on, Eduardo sent in the Safety cars on the track to repai any and all damage made by crashes to avoid anything that could be avoided in terms of risks to the drivers, he isn't even very fond of safety cars - usually he prefers yellow flags or at best full course caution - , but in light of what had happened, he decided to opt for the safest thing until the end of the race.
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
I'll agree with Roger, Famine. And with you, too. Spooky was the word. I haven't had much time to drop in and send you a 'Thank You' for that image; while I found it almost heart-rending to view, at the time it was posted it was downright spooky to know that you were there, you took that shot, and it ended up here, a 'bouquet of life', placed upon the memory of one who gave us many thrills and much enjoyment.
In fact it was a kind of 'shock and awe' shot - and truly brought home the message that in the midst of life we are in death.
These were my thoughts, too. It was a tragic error because of a misplaced tree. But no way the guy who planted it would know how his work would impact Motor Sports.
This is also a heads-up to track-makers. To be fair, though, recently constructed tracks carry more and more safety measures, and attempt to address all possible risks.
Allan will always be missed.
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