LE MANS, France (AP) — Defending champion Loic Duval of France has apparently escaped unscathed from a crash which destroyed his Audi during practice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Wednesday.

“Examinations in the hospital of Le Mans have confirmed that Loic Duval is unhurt apart from two grazes to the skin,” Audi Sport tweeted.

Race organizers said in a statement: “His condition is encouraging.”

The practice was red-flagged for about 50 minutes after Duval crashed in the Porsche curves.

The accident happened a year after Allan Simonsen died during the race. The Danish driver’s Aston Martin spun out at high speed only 10 minutes into the race and skidded into a barrier. Simonsen died at the hospital.

Last year, Duval gave Audi a 12th title at the famed endurance race, four shy of Porsche’s record.

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