Peugeot 908 HDi dominates at Valencia, Audi R10 on notice
For the first time in several years, the 2007 24 Hours of LeMans is shaping up (on paper, at least) to be a real battle for the top spot. Peugeot's new 908 HDi is now 2-for-2 in the LeMans Endurance Series after a dominant win at Valencia in Spain. The diesel-powered Peugeots started to overtake the slowest cars in the 45 car field only four laps into the race.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for the French cars ,as the leader had a clutch fail after 160 laps. Still, after six hours of racing, the second 908 crossed the finish line three laps ahead of the next car. It should be a great race next month between the open-cockpit Audi R10s and these closed Peugeots.
[Source: Peugeot Sport]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dausman 12:23PM (5/10/2007)
A battle of the diesels...whether it be Peugeot or Audi as winner...if they both keep proving the power and endurance of a diesel powered race car then ,perhaps our American auto manufacturers and buying public will look at diesel power for our own everyday drivers in diesel powered sedans, SUVs,and any others vehicle that needs an engine...even a sport coupe or so.
Diesel fuel is avalable now.It can be very good fuel that will help decrease our consumption of petroleum based fuels until we have other fuel souces or means of power that now are not readily available.
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Rocket Punch 12:28PM (5/10/2007)
It will be interesting, no doubt.
Audi is an old fox in the Le Mans arena and a mighty fast one. The pace of the car is only part of the equation, especially when you are talking about a race that is 24 hours long.
If Peugeot can pull this off in a straight fight, This will be a big boost to their racing outfit and will have some fresh material to promote their brand.
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chuck goolsbee 12:33PM (5/10/2007)
Indeed. I can't wait for June!
And Dausman, not just sport coupes. I want a 2-seat roadster with a Diesel engine. The ultimate sports-commuter car! =)
--chuck
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^FourthDimensionGod^ 12:40PM (5/10/2007)
clutch failure eh. they better get that sorted. Audi is a very organized team and the R10 is pretty bullet proof and a clutch failure at le mans might just make the difference in them winning or losing
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Bert 1:15PM (5/10/2007)
It's nice to see that Audi will have a fight on their hands. I completely respect what they have done in endurance racing, but I like to cheer for the underdog. Too boot I get to cheer on my local boy Villeneuve!
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Chad 3:30PM (5/10/2007)
Didn't the Audi R10s get slightly de-tuned by the American LeMans group? I thought earlier this year they had to add weight or something like that so the races were more competitive in the states.
If so will that restriction be off for the real 24 hours at LeMans?
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Lopek 10:35AM (8/26/2007)
I think their chances are being seriously overstated. I hope it is a close fight but I seriously doubt it.
The 908 has yet to successfully complete a 24 test at Paul Ricard which is billiard smooth and dust free! 2 Attempts, both stopped (really early) due to technical problems. The 2 LMS races are the furthest it has managed so far - and had reliability issues in both.
They realistically needs a 36hour run at Ricard to be equivelent to 24 at Le Mans on a dirty busy track.
Peugeot themselves are targeting nothing more than getting the cars to the finish.
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p taylor 7:21PM (5/10/2007)
A tough ask for Peugeot given Audi's track record : )
But it will definitely make the race more interesting.
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