Kristensen makes Le Mans history

Dane Tom Kristensen made history at Le Mans when he clinched a record seventh win in the motor racing classic in searing heat yesterday.

Kristensen, sharing with German Marco Werner and Finn JJ Lehto in an Audi R8, beat the previous record of six wins set by Jacky Ickx between 1969 and 1982.

The 37-year-old won the world's most famous endurance race at his first attempt in 1997 and every year from 2000.

A Pescarolo driven by Frenchmen Eric Comas, Emmanuel Collard and Jean-Christophe Boullion finished second two laps behind.

Another Audi R8 with Briton Allan McNish, German Frank Biela and Italian Emanuele Pirro sharing the wheel came home third, six laps off the pace.

German car maker Audi has now won at Le Mans five times in the last six years.

World rally champion Sebastien Loeb's hopes for Le Mans honours on his debut were dashed when his Pescarolo was damaged in an accident.

Loeb's participation and the fine weather attracted 230,000 spectators to the track, a figure that matches the 1974 attendance record.