Paris (AFP)
With Jacky Ickx and Tom Kristensen leading the way, 29 World Endurance Champions (WEC and former WSC) entered the Hall of Fame at the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in February. a ceremony bringing together the biggest names in the category in Paris on Monday.
These drivers, mostly victors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, join the 33 world champions in the history of Formula 1 and the 17 sacred Rally (WRC) who have been inducted into this pantheon of motorsport since its inauguration by the FIA, two years ago in its Paris headquarters on the Place de la Concorde, at the foot of the Champs-Elysées.
Among the 27 "hall of famers" present on Monday, Fernando Alonso, already inducted in F1 but also in endurance Monday after his coronation fresh in WEC (2019): "I am very happy, very proud to be here, a- I think this + Hall of Fame + is doing a lot for the legacy of motorsport, for the younger generation, "hailed with AFP the double world champion F1 (2005 and 2006), hoping inspire others to "follow his path" and "try to be a good driver in all categories".
"There are all generations, the young, the old, we are all part of the same corporation, the same clan," said Jacky Ickx, six-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1969 and 1982. " And that's special moments, we see people from our time, new ones ... it really allows us to be together. "
Tom Kristensen, who dethroned the Belgian by bringing the record of victories to Le Mans to nine in 2013, shares the same opinion: "It's great to be alongside older champions and to be able to greet them, those of me inspired me when I grew up and went karting, "he told AFP.
In addition to spaces paying tribute to the headquarters of the institution, in Paris but also in Geneva, a digital gallery also celebrates these champions of the world of endurance on the internet (https://halloffame.fia.com/).
© 2019 AFP