Allan Simonsen's death at Le Mans to be classed as a racing incident

Audi have now won the past four Le Mans 24 Hours. Sutton Images/Corbis

The French legal investigation by the attorney and police into the death of Danish driver Allan Simonsen in the opening stages of the Le Mans 24 hours were continuing after the race came to its conclusion on Sunday, although early indications are that it will not be a lengthy process and that the accident will be attributed to a racing incident.

Simonsen, driving for Aston Martin, left the wet track at the fast Tetre Rouge corner on only his fourth lap, impacted heavily with the barriers and was immediately transferred to the circuit's medical centre but died soon afterwards. It is the first fatality at the 24 since 1997 but although the race was yellow-flagged during the incident it continued and was ultimately won by the Audi team of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loïc Duval, who were among many of the drivers who's joy at the finish was tempered with sadness at the death of a colleague who was well-respected as a top GT driver.

Much of this unique 8.4667-mile circuit is made up of public roads, of which Tetre Rouge is part and thus under French law must be investigated by the civil system. However, this is does not suggest anything untoward is expected. Phillipe Joubin, head of communications for race organiser's Automobile Club de l'Ouest' (ACO) explained that it would be: "Investigated by the police, it's normal procedure as would be the case with a road crash. The French attorney and police would investigate even should it take place on the private circuit but it would be a different type of investigation."

The ACO was unable to comment on any specifics of the investigation but Joubin believed it would be a swift process, if not one that had already been completed and that early indicators are that no blame will be attributed in the wake of initial enquiries on Saturday afternoon that suggest it will be classed as a racing incident.

Indeed Britain's Anthony Davidson, who finished second overall in his Toyota confirmed that the damp conditions were especially difficult for all the drivers and specifically at Tetre Rouge. "The most difficult thing was to carry on driving after we had heard the news about Allan Simonsen," he said. "I've ran off the kerbs myself many times in that same corner, you realise it can happen to any one. That was a really tough moment for all of us I think, to carry on driving to carry on pushing in those conditions."

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