Peugeot Sport preps up for 2010 Le Mans with the 908 HDI

2009 was a successful year in motor sport terms for Peugeot, which included; the Le Mans win, a clean sweep of the podium places for the 207 Super 2000 in the Rallye Monte-Carlo, as well as third consecutive Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ titles in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

For 2010, the French marque targets yet another win in Le Mans with the 908 HDi FAP, in its the fourth and final year, before a new variant replaces it next season.

Test sessions and races at a variety of venues have been arranged for the 908 in order to be as well prepared as possible for the 78th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, a race which always throws up unique challenges, uncertainties and changes of fortune, all part of its legendary status.

Peugeot’s first test comes with 12 hours of racing against the heat and difficult track at Sebring, Florida, USA, which provides the backdrop for the year’s first appearance of the two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs, shared by the appointed drivers. The second event is at Spa-Francorchamps in a round of the Le Mans Series and this will serve as a dress- rehearsal for the whole Peugeot Sport team, with three cars entered. Eleven test sessions and two races should see enable the team to prepare thoroughly for Le Mans.

Since its historic success on 14 June 2009, Peugeot have racked up a total of
eleven test sessions consisting of endurance runs, set-up work and two
demanding warm-ups in the form of two actual races.

Eleven drivers have been chosen to fly the Peugeot flag, running with race numbers 1, 2 and 3, the numbers which were previously the property of the make’s much respected rival, Audi. The 2009 winners will carry the Number 1 plate are ex f1 drivers; Marc Gene, Alexander Wurz and Anthony Davidson. In the No.2 908, the drivers are; Nicolas Minassian, Franck Montagny and Stéphane Sarrazin, while the third crew contains Sébastien Bourdais, Simon Pagenaud and Pedro Lamy at the wheel of the No.8 Peugeot. The reserve drivers are Christian Klien and Gregpry Guilvert.

Gene and Wurz will be tackling their fourth Le Mans, the Austrian having won twice, in 1996 and 2009. Davidson has contested the French race twice (2002 and 2009) and tested the 908 in a session at Le Castellet at the end of 2008.

After Le Mans, there are two further races on the calendar for the 908 HDi FAP: the Le Mans Series round at Silverstone, England. Then, in September, Peugeot goes for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup race in Shanghai, China.

In 2011, there will new regulations for endurance racing with several new rules already announced, Peugeot have begun development work on a new car.

* Article taken from www.motorsportchannel.com