Kristensen gets green light for 24 Hours.

Audi's decision to rest Tom Kristensen from DTM duty while he recovered from his round one accident at Hockenheim appears to have paid dividends as the Dane has been given the go-ahead to race at Le Mans.

Doctors supervising Kristensen's recuperation have given the green light for his comeback following a successful test at the wheel of an Audi A4 DTM at Brands Hatch. As result, Kristensen will rejoin Audi Sport Team Joest for the 24 Hours, where he will line up alongside Rinaldo Capello and Allan McNish as originally planned.

Mattias Ekstr?m, who was designated as reserve for Kristensen, has been released and can now concentrate solely on the title fight in the DTM.

"I'm very happy that Tom Kristensen is fit again and can compete for us as planned at Le Mans," admitted Audi Motorsport's Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, "We gave him the time he needed to recover in peace and quiet from his severe accident as Le Mans is an extremely important race for Audi, and Tom, with all his experience, is an important component of our Le Mans squad."

The Dane is also delighted to be able to make his comeback at the race that he has made his own by claiming seven victories.

"It's a fantastic feeling," he said, "It was a long break without motorsport, and, on occasion, I really had to fight very hard with the effects of my accident. However, over the last few weeks my recovery really accelerated. I feel fit again. The doctors checked me from head-to-toe and gave their approval, and I'm delighted to be able to compete with Dindo and Allan again."

After intensifying his fitness training over the last few weeks, Kristensen was back in a race car exactly 48 days after his accident at the DTM opener on 22 April, in which he suffered severe whiplash.

"The idea behind this test was for Tom to assess whether he felt comfortable in a race car again and could also withstand the loads," Ullrich explained, "He was quick from the word go - just as we would expect from him - and set constantly quick lap times. He felt comfortable in the car and good after the test, which is why, after consulting him and the doctors, we gave the green light for his comeback."

Kristensen will continue his rehabilitation programme in the next few days under the supervision of Audi team doctor Dr Christian John, but is set to complete his first laps at the wheel of the #2 Audi R10 TDI in Wednesday evening qualifying. He will return to the DTM next weekend, at the Norisring.