1 for 1: Peugeot 908 HDi FAP wins race debut
Click image for high-res photo gallery of the Peugeot 908 HDi in action
The first real test of Peugeot Total's Le Mans-bound 908 HDi FAP prototype was a resounding success. The pair of diesel-powered prototypes finished 1st and 3rd in this weekend's 1000 kilometer Le Mans series race at Monza. The winning car, #7, driven by Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gené encountered two minor problems: a door that did not shut properly and an oil pressure sensor warning light. The #8 car, piloted by Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy, had a gearbox problem that caused them to lose time in the pits while it was repaired. Still, the team was able to get the car back on the circuit and guide it to a podium finish. Second place was taken by the #16 Pescarolo Judd. You can read Peugeot's release after the jump, and view the full race results here.
[Source: Peugeot Sport]
Gallery: Peugeot 908 HDi win at Monza
Gallery: Peugeot 908 HDi
**PRESS RELEASE**
LE MANS SERIES
MONZA 1000KMS (13-14-15 April 2007)
FIRST RACE, FIRST VICTORY!
The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP driven by Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gené took a fantastic win today in Monza on its first appearance at the Le Mans series, watched by Peugeot's Director General Frederic Saint-Geours. Their success was crowned by a third place for the second Peugeot crew of Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy.
This achievement was the culmination of more than a year of hard work from the entire Peugeot Total team, which started its Le Mans programme from a blank sheet of paper just 16 months ago. The winning car encountered only two problems: a badly-closed door following the first fuel stop and a warning light for an oil pressure sensor - which was thankfully of no consequence.
The second car experienced a similar problem with its door at the first fuel stop, and then a gearbox glitch that led to the car becoming stuck in first gear after the first chicane on lap 61. Stephane Sarrazin - running in second place at the time, just 20 seconds behind the n°7 908 HDi FAP - nursed the car back to the pits where the mechanics changed the gearshift command unit.
He lost five laps and re-joined in 12th place with the bit between his teeth. Stephane set fastest lap before handing the car over to his team mate Pedro Lamy. The Portuguese driver continued the crew's charge, taking the car to an eventual third place at the finish.
Nicolas Minassian : «This result was a huge surprise for us as we have never done so many consecutive kilometres before in a test session. We just had two small problems: a badly-closed door at the first fuel stop and and oil pressure warning that turned out to be nothing but still forced me to make a trip to the pits. »
Marc Gené : «The performance of the 908 HDi FAP is not so different to that of a Formula 1 car, but with a very different engine. The race was very good for me, but I was very worried that I would not finish as I thought we had a gearbox problem in the last few laps.»
Pedro Lamy : « It was truly a big and very pleasant surprise ! The team did a fantastic job, while I tried to drive carefully to look after an injury I sustained earlier to my Achilles tendon. I'd like to say a big thank you to the entire team that has kept faith with me throughout the last few weeks. I'm so happy to be here ! »
Stéphane Sarrazin : « Thank you to the entire team, which has done such a fantastic job over the last few months. I was very disappointed after the gearbox problem that cost us five laps, but I was soon back in the groove again and I really enjoyed myself driving the 908.»
Next Le Mans Series round : Valencia (Spain) / 5-6 May
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Todd 3:45PM (4/16/2007)
Peugeot is gonna need to put its money where its pompous press release is at Le Mans - the Audi there.
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Cameron 4:14PM (4/16/2007)
"This result was a huge surprise for us as we have never done so many consecutive kilometres before in a test session."
Does this mean that the 908s are fragile? With Le Mans just around the corner, they should've completed several faultless 24 hour tests by now.
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ruggels 4:27PM (4/16/2007)
I guess this would be moderately interresting/newsworthy if they were actually, you know, competing with the R10s. it seems pretty damn empty to mention audi early on, then race in a class which doesn't contain the all conquering R10s. Plus it's going against more conventionally derived vehicles vs the other purely and utterly race bred cars in LMP1. good for peugeot, though I'm sure any of the LMP1 cars would hand LMP2 their asses on a plate, R10s, porsches, et-al. How about Peugeot go ahead and compete with other LMP1 cars prior to the event 61 days away, then give their pr people a call
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Tal 4:31PM (4/16/2007)
More diesel competition....they are awesome
(Audi has been anyway)...just hope the diesel powered units prove their viability to the American public,manufacturers and dealers...we need more on diesel powered cars our roads to be a part of the solution to decrease the huge amount of oil we consume as a nation. We will probably never depend on a single fuel source/power again.
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Quattrofan 5:48PM (4/16/2007)
Wow, what happened? Did they beat up this car with an ugly stick after the Paris motorshow? http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/28/paris-motor-show-peugeot-908-le-mans/
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TDIMeister 6:03PM (4/16/2007)
I have names for the two Peugeot racers: Kang and Kodos. The drivers' pods and the appearance of the cars in general remind me vividly of the aliens in The Simpsons.
They should paint the cars olive green and they would be dead-ringers.
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Brad 6:56PM (4/16/2007)
The LeMans 24 hours should be interesting this year. The proven Audi R10 against the new Peugeot entry. I would think if the Peugeots just finish the race, it will be a huge victory.
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amp 8:49AM (4/17/2007)
"I guess this would be moderately interresting/newsworthy if they were actually, you know, competing with the R10s. it seems pretty damn empty to mention audi early on, then race in a class which doesn't contain the all conquering R10s."
Are you serious? The R10 compete in America, you know, where they sell cars. For the Peugeots to race head-to-head with them they'd have to come over the the States...where they don't sell cars. Makes no sense to me.
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ruggels 9:34AM (4/17/2007)
It makes sense because the peugeouts will be competing against the R10s in LMP1 thus it might be nice for peugeout to have some kind of litmus test for their cars prior to, erm, the actual lemans starting
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ruggels 9:34AM (4/17/2007)
also, conversly, following you logic, audi should have competed in the LMP2 class with peugeot because they sell cars over there too.. erm... no.. these are lmp1 cars.
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dookie559 3:03PM (4/17/2007)
Peugeot is in LMP1
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