At the 2011 Sprint Bathurst event, he set a blistering time of 2:04.95 around the famous Mount Panorama circuit. This was a monumental effort at the time, as it was a full 2 seconds faster than any V8 Supercar lap time and comparable to the Formula 3 lap record set in the following year.[8][9] Simonsen's time was so quick that the officials initially removed it from the timing screens, for they believed it to be an error. It wasn't until it was confirmed by the manual time keeper and the team's own data, however, that the time was reinstated.[10]
Simonsen in the No. 95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE before crashing
In the 9th minute of the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans,[12] and on his third lap,[13] Simonsen was leading the LMGTE Am field with his No. 95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE.[14] At the Tertre Rouge corner, Simonsen's car twitched as he accelerated through the right hand turn,[14] and when he attempted to correct,[14][15] the car veered left before impacting the crash barriers on the outside of the corner.[4][5] He was extricated from the car, reportedly conscious,[16] before being taken to the on-site medical centre where he succumbed to his injuries.[17] His death was the first in racing conditions during the 24 Hours of Le Mans since Jo Gartner died in a 1986 crash, while French driver Sébastien Enjolras died more recently in a pre-qualifying session accident in 1997.[17][18]
Race officials raised a Danish flag at half mast over the circuit's podium during the race in honor of Simonsen. Fellow Danish driver Tom Kristensen won the race overall and dedicated his team's victory to the memory of Simonsen.[19]
Memorials
The award for the fastest qualifier at the Bathurst 12 Hour, which Simonsen won in 2013, is named the Allan Simonsen Pole Position Trophy.[20]
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