Kristian Kolby

Kristian Kolby (born 9 October 1978) is a Danish racing driver from Ringkøbing in Denmark.

Career

Kolby was based in the United Kingdom, but raced all over the world, for many years and was a successful single seater racer, Sportscar and touring car racer. Prior to this, he was a successful karting champion in both his native Denmark and in the UK.

Kolby is a former British Formula Ford champion for the Van Diemen team beating team mate Mark Webber to the title. He went on to become a race winner in the UK Formula Renault series again with Van Diemen, UK Formula Three series, finishing fourth in the British championship in 1999. In 2000, he progressed to the F3000 series with the DAMS team partnering Franck Montagny taking a best finish of fourth at the Nurburgring in a difficult season for both the DAMS drivers. Kolby also undertook media and testing work for the BAR F1 team occasionally, but ultimately never raced.

Kolby moved to Conquest Racing in the American Indy Lights series in 2001, competing against his childhood friend Daniel Wheldon. His win in Indy Lights at Kansas is one of the world's closest motor race finishes as he narrowly beat Irishman Damien Faulkner by 0.001secs.

Before finishing in single-seater racing, Kolby also competed in the Le Mans 24-hour race for the DAMS (Driot-Arnoux Motorsport) Cadillac team, as well as races for the Ascari team, notably the Sebring 12hrs. He also competed in touring car races in the Danish Touring Car Challenge during the 2000 season dovetailing his F3000 year.

Kolby retired from racing in 2003 at a young age. He carried on doing media and TV presenting work in his native work, before concentrating on a business career in the UK.

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

American open–wheel racing results (key)

Indy Lights Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref 2001 Conquest RacingMTYLBHTXSMILPOR KAN TORMOHGATATLLAGFON8th80

24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Team DAMS Marc Goossens Christophe Tinseau Cadillac Northstar LMP LMP900 4 DNF DNF