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Danish driver Allan Simonsen dies after crashing at 24 Hours of Le Mans race

Danish pilot Allan Simonsen (C) steers his Aston Martin Vantage number 95, before his accident, during the 90th edition of Le Mans 24 hours endurance race on June 22, 2013, in Le Mans, western France. ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images

LE MANS, France – Danish driver Allan Simonsen died Saturday following a crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, race organizers said.

The 34-year-old Simonsen was taken to the hospital Saturday after his Aston Martin No. 95 crashed out around 10 minutes after the start of the race.

Simonsen spun at high speed and his car skidded into the barrier at the Tertre Rouge corner.

He died at the hospital soon after arrival “due to his injuries,” organizers said.

Simonsen was participating for the seventh time at the endurance race.

The safety car came out after the accident and the race was held up for nearly an hour to repair the guard rail.

Simonsen finished second in the GT2 class at Le Mans three years ago. He clocked the fastest time in qualifying Thursday in the GTE Am class.

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Simonsen and Danish co-drivers Kristian Poulsen and Christoffer Nygaard were leading the GTE Am class in the world endurance championship after topping their category at Silverstone in April and finishing second in Spa-Francorchamps last month.

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