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Mr. Le Mans: Tom Kristensen

Mr. Le Mans: Tom Kristensen by Tom Kristensen with Dan Philipsen © Glen Smale
Mr. Le Mans: Tom Kristensen by Tom Kristensen with Dan Philipsen © Glen Smale

The interesting thing about racing is that nothing is certain. You can prepare yourself and the car perfectly, but then another car hits you or pulls out in front of you, and there is little if anything you can do to avoid the inevitable contact. The unpredictability of racing is unlike most sports, in that besides the weather and the fact that you are strapped into a missile that relies on thousands of parts all working in harmony, you also have the added factor of all the other cars in the field who may act or react in an unforeseen manner.

Mr. Le Mans: Tom Kristensen by Tom Kristensen with Dan Philipsen © Glen Smale
Mr. Le Mans: Tom Kristensen by Tom Kristensen with Dan Philipsen © Glen Smale

To rise to the top of any sport as a professional competitor requires skill and commitment, lots of it, and the right opportunity at the right time. Somebody once told Gary Player, the world famous professional golfer, that he was very lucky on the golf course. Player replied that the more he practiced, the luckier he got, which quickly silenced his critic. But you cannot deny that it takes any professional sportsman or woman a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to the top, and for that we can all thank them for the pleasure it brings us as spectators and media, in watching them excel.

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