Allan Simonsen (racing driver)
A beloved and fiercely competitive Danish driver whose passion for endurance racing was tragically cut short at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
1978–2013 (age 35)·Danish racing driver·Birthday: July 5·Generation X
Biography
Allan Simonsen's world was the cockpit of a GT car, where stamina and precision mattered more than outright speed. Hailing from Odense, he carved a formidable career in touring car and sports car racing, becoming a fixture at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Known for his technical feedback and relentless consistency, he was a sought-after co-driver for top privateer teams like Aston Martin and Ferrari. Simonsen's dedication made him a champion in the Danish Touring Car Championship and a frequent podium finisher in endurance series. His life and career, deeply respected by peers and fans, ended in a sudden accident at the 2013 Le Mans, a loss that sent waves of grief through the global motorsport community.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Allan was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Allan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Allan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2013Died at 35
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Won the Danish Touring Car Championship in 2008 driving a BMW.
- Secured a class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008, driving a Ferrari 430 GT2 for the Virgo Motorsport team.
- Achieved multiple podium finishes in the FIA GT1 World Championship, including a win at the 2012 Navarra round.
- Was a three-time class winner at the Bathurst 12 Hour race in Australia (2007, 2008, 2013).
Did You Know?
He made his Le Mans debut in 2007 and competed in the race seven consecutive times before his fatal accident.
His final race win came at the Bathurst 12 Hour just months before his death, a victory dedicated to him by his team.
He was a development driver for the Aston Martin DBR9 and Vantage GT2 programs, helping refine the cars for competition.
“The car must last twenty-four hours; you drive accordingly.”
