Mansell crashes out at Le Mans 24 hours

Britain's Nigel Mansell retired from the Le Mans 24 hours race yesterday after crashing his Ginetta-Zytek into a railing just 20 minutes into the most famous endurance race in the world.

The 56-year-old former Formula One world champion, competing with his two sons Greg and Leo, was helped out of his car which carried his lucky "Red 5" moniker by marshalls but did not appear to be injured.

He was, however, taken from the scene in an ambulance while the safety car made its first appearance on the track.

"He's good but we still don't know what he has exactly. His wife and sons have gone to see him in the medical centre, we're waiting for him to return to the pit," Jeff Carter, spokesman for the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport stable, told AFP.

After choosing to start the race himself, Mansell clipped the rail between posts 89 and 95 during his fifth circuit - a fast stretch known as Indianapolis.

The race was held up for 31 minutes behind the safety car before getting underway again.

The annual race began with its usual pageantry, the French Prime Minister François Fillon and Jean Todt, president of the FIA, motor sport's world governing body, among the special guests at the start of the 78th edition.

"Le Mans has a proven magic which is always in my heart," said Todt. "As president of FIA I am happy to be here to help at one of the most beautiful events in the world."