How I photographed a Le Mans legend. Words and pictures: Roman Klemm

A few days ago, I had an unexpected opportunity at the Legends Grand Prix at the Salzburgring. Tom Kristensen, the 9-time winner of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, asked me to document his drive. What an honor - even if it didn't turn out exactly as we had hoped...

Manufacturers Audi, Porsche and Mercedes really tried to support the new event and sent many exhibits from their museums to the first "LGP" at the Salzburgring. Several stars were supposed to drive them. On Sunday, it was the record Le Mans winner, Dane Tom Kristensens turn, to run in the Audi 90 quattro IMSA-GTO. This is one of only 6 specials of this kind produced. In 1989, Audi entered these cars in the GTO class of the famous IMSA championship. The 720 hp 5-cylinder was driven by Hans-Joachm Stuck, Walter Röhrl, Hurley Haywood and Scott Goodyear. Stuck won 7 races with this monster and lost the championship only because he missed a few IMSA events.

A quarter of a century later, it was Kristensen's turn, who was available only on Sunday - in very changeable weather. The opportunity to drive the Audi 90 GTO with its all-wheel drive was obviously a great gift for him, so he wanted to have this adventure photographed. He asked me if I could take some pictures, "...best if the exhaust is spewing turbo fire!" I refused the offered cash and promised Kristensen photos, although shooting the turbo fire doesn't always turn out the way as one plans.

After taking pics in the paddock I hurried to the first chicane. I was there in time at 2:00 p.m., when the Audi 90 GTO was supposed to enter the track - and at that very time it started to rain heavily... And it didn't stop... In the end I was glad that Tom passed me at least a few times - of course without spitting any flames...  Back in the paddock he humbly apologized to me: "Sorry, but that car is built for races in the USA, where it probably wasn't driven in the rain. The air circulation wasn't working and my windshield was so fogged up right after the start that I really couldn't see anything..."

I sent the pictures to Tom that evening and he thanked me the next day: "How did you manage to take so many pics, even though I only did two laps..?"

For me personally, it was a sensational experience and I rightly put Mr. Kristensen in the group of people who have manners. This year alone, I could name a whole series of "stars" who also had their photos taken - and even if they will never achieve only a fraction of Kristensen's successes in their careers, they did not even thank for the service...