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29 March 2024

Duval survives after huge Le Mans practice crash

French driver Loic Duval in his Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro Hybrid N°1 competes during the free pratice session of the 82th Le Mans 24 hours endurance race, on June 11, 2014 in Le Mans, France. (AFP)

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By Agencies

Audi's Le Mans winner Loic Duval emerged unscathed from a huge high-speed crash that halted practice for the 24 Hours sportscar race on Wednesday.

The Frenchman, a first time winner last year who shares his car with Denmark's nine-time champion Tom Kristensen and Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi, was extracted from the mangled wreckage and taken to hospital in Le Mans.

Audi Sport reported on their official Twitter feed that the driver, whose car was destroyed in the impact after leaving the track at the Porsche Curves, was "unhurt apart from two grazes to the skin".

The team added that they would do all they could to get the number one car ready for qualifying.

Last year's race was marred by tragedy when Kristensen's compatriot Allan Simonsen, who was driving an Aston Martin, died in an accident only minutes after the start.

Audi will be chasing their 13th Le Mans victory this weekend since their debut in 1999, and fifth in a row.

They face a tough challenge from Toyota and Porsche, returning as a full works team for the first time in 16 years with Australian former F1 driver Mark Webber.

The 82nd edition of the race, to be waved away by Ferrari's double Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso, starts at the Sarthe circuit in western France on Saturday.