Kristensen predicts “close” Porsche and Toyota Le Mans duel

Kristensen voiced a word of warning for Toyota ahead of Saturday’s start, and thinks the Japanese marque’s failure to win the event previously counts against it when faced with the factory might of Porsche – the manufacturer with a record 18 victories to its name.

“Toyota looks like they are the favourite this year,” Kristensen said during a Eurosport phone-in. “But how can you make them – as a manufacturer, a team and drivers – the favourite when they haven’t won Le Mans yet?

“It’s very interesting because they’re up against the winner of the past two years: Porsche AG. Of course, the first two races of the WEC have been won by Toyota, although they have not been completely level in terms of aerodynamic configuration and strategy.

“But at Le Mans we will really see two great manufacturers level for the first time.

“I would put both my heart and my brain in Toyota doing it this year. I believe they will be more competitive on the tyres, run a little bit longer than the Porsche. But it’s gonna be close.

“And if there’s mishap with any of these complex race cars – and they really are beautiful cars – then you very soon will drop down. You’ll quickly be among the LMP2 cars if you spend too long in the garage. The hot guns in those cars will not be going slowly either.”

“Trust your butt”

‘Mr Le Mans’ was also asked to divulge his best advice to any driver in the 60-car field, and he leant on his vast experience for the answer…

Said Kristensen: “The most important thing, and as my team boss Reinhold Joest and my teammate Michele Alboreto told me in my very first race at Le Mans in 1997, their last words of advice were: ‘Trust your butt’.

"That is the most and best advice you can give to any driver. You can speak and prepare all you like. But when you’re in the car, it’s you alone. Then you just have to do it.”