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12th Jun 2023

Michael Fassbender crashes out of Le Mans race

Simon Kelly

Michael Fassbender crash

The Irish actor was not injured in the accident.

Michael Fassbender crashed out of the famous Le Mans 24-hour race in his Porsche 911 this weekend.

The X-Men actor took to the track on Sunday for Germany’s Proton Competition team for his second year running. However, his time behind the wheel was cut short when his car went into a tailspin and collided with the barricade.

According to local media reports, Fassbender was not injured and was able to get the car back to the pits before it was officially retired.

Le Mans is won by the car that covers the greatest distance possible over the 24 hour period. Teams split the race between several drivers, swapping every few hours. Fassbender had about 15 minutes left in his six-hour slot.

It’s the 46-year-old’s second time racing at Le Mans, making his debut last year (where he also crashed out). In 2019, he took part in his first race at the Rally of the Lakes in Killarney, celebrating the event’s 40th anniversary. In 2021, he made his first podium, finishing second in Portimão.

The actor, who received Oscar nominations for his performances in 12 Years A Slave and Steve Jobs, has been vocal about his passions for motorsport.

In an interview with Top Gear, he said “I’m never going to be a professional racing driver, but I’m super passionate about it, it means so much to me. And I want to reach my full potential.”

Fassbender is due to star in Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins, as well as David Fincher’s neo-noir flick The Killer.

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