For Dutch driver Tom Coronel, last weekend’s Hankook 24H PORTIMAO at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve was his first real-life race in months. Together with his teammates in the Comtoyou team Audi Sport Audi RS 3 LMS he finished second in class. “It was fantastic to actually be able to race again,” he said. Meanwhile, he also remains involved in sim racing with another highlight coming up o Saturday: the virtual race at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway as part of the ‘triple crown’ competition of the Legends’ Trophy, organised by platform The Race. “Something really cool to look forward to,” Coronel comments.
There is no special trophy for it, there is no extra prize money to be won, but the prestige is huge: the Indy 500, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix together are known as the ‘triple crown’ in motorsport, comparable to the ‘grand slam’ for professional tennis players. So far, only one driver has succeeded in winning the three famous races: British driver Graham Hill won the Indy 500 in 1966, the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1972 and the Monaco Grand Prix on no less than five occasions in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 and 1969. Two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso is known to be keen to become the second winner of the ‘triple crown’, already having victories at Monaco and Le Mans to his name. Juan Pablo Montoya, meanwhile, has won at Monaco and Indianapolis, but the Columbian is still lacking a victory at Le Mans on his achievement list.
Tom Coronel is well aware that the ‘triple crown’ is beyond reach for him: « I have raced at Monaco and I have done the Le Mans 24 Hours a couple of times. That is already something, » he says. « But it is really nice to be able to do these three big classic races in a virtual way, and that with the Brabham BT44 Formula 1 car from 1974, a car with large wings and a huge air intake on top. It is really enjoyable to do and we are having a lot of fun as the drivers among us, but of course, we want to win as well. After all, we are racing drivers. »
After the first virtual races of the ‘triple crown’ at the Monaco street circuit, the aforementioned Fernando Alonso is leading the standings, two points ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya. Three-time touring car world champion Andy Priaulx, who, like Alonso, won one of the races at Monaco, is third in the standings while Tom Coronel is in ninth place. « Hopefully, I can improve my position a bit this weekend, » he says. “For me, racing on an oval is new, but that only adds to the excitement! »
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