Tom Kristensen and Zak Brown on the podium at 2024 Estoril Classics
Today, Zak Brown and Tom “Mr Le Mans” Kristensen celebrated on the podium at the 2024 Estoril Classics, taking third in class with the 1981 Porsche 935 – famous for winning the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours in the same year (1982).
There have been rain showers throughout the weekend in Northern Portugal, making for greasy track conditions. In Qualifying, the Porsche went straight to the top of the timesheets, running P1 and P2 with Kristensen in the first half of the session, proving the 935’s pace. We concluded the session in P16, however, as the rest of the field finished on slick tyres when Brown had already completed his share of the laps and come into the box.
On race day, the rain started in the pre-grid – however Kristensen masterfully managed the slick tyres and moved up 11 places in three laps to P5 overall, P2 in class.
“As we pulled out it started raining a little bit again,” says Kristensen, “but I understand driving a Porsche. You would like to have some wet conditions, so it actually gave good confidence and the car was brilliant. Zak told me “You will enjoy it in the rain, you will enjoy it” … it was a nice experience, and it was a good race!”
1981 Porsche 935 at 2024 Estoril Classics
After the driver change, Brown settled into P4 in class, gaining time consistently on the cars ahead. Last minute drama promoted the Porsche to P3 in class, and secured Brown and Kristensen’s first podium together.
“Tom had a great start in the 935 – it was awesome to watch!” says Brown. “We had good pace throughout, running P4 in class and in the final moments we took P3. Huge thanks to Tom for racing with me this weekend. It was a pleasure to share the podium with such a legend of the sport.”
Unfortunately for the 1974 Ford Cologne Capri RS3100, it wasn’t such a happy ending. Starting from P18 on the grid (P17 in class) with slicks in a majority field of wets, Kristensen had another epic start, storming up the field from P18 to P6 in the first 10 laps. The nine-time Le Mans winner continued to gain places lap after lap, bringing the car into the box in third place overall - however an issue with the brakes meant that Brown and the Capri didn’t rejoin the race.
1974 Ford Cologne Capri RS3100 at 2024 Estoril Classics
That’s a wrap for historic racing this season. Next, the LMP2 squad are heading to Atlanta for the finale of the WeatherTech IMSA SportsCar Championship – Petit Le Mans. Stay up to date on social @unitedautosports.