As we reported yesterday, Peugeot was clearly the fastest in qualifying for this weekend's running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The record-setting runs of all three 908 HDi diesel-powered LMP1 cars places Peugeot's entire field of entries 1-2-3 on the starting grid. That's impressive considering two of Peugeot's car crashed during the past two weeks of practice. Audi is hoping that its team's experience, quicker pit stops and more fuel efficient R10 LMP1 cars will eventually carry it past the Peugeots, despite starting fourth, fifth and seventh on the 55-car grid. And thanks to the speed of Lola Aston Martin driver Stefan Mücke whose petrol-powered car earned the sixth spot on the starting grid, not all the front runners will be diesel-powered.
As for classes other than LMP1, the next fastest LMP2 class was dominated by the Porsche Spyders not surprisingly, while LMGT1 is being led by the #63 Corvette Racing C6.R. The Corvettes will be chased this year by the particularly fast #50 Larbre Competition Saleen S7 and some slower but determined Aston Martin DBR9s from Aston Martin Racing. Finally, LMGT2 will be another great battle between Porsches and Ferraris, with the #76 Imsa Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on pole for the class. Remember the amazing GT2 class finish of last year's race between Flying Lizard's Jorg Bergmeister in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and Risi Competizione's Jaime Melo in a Ferrari 430GT? If not, watch it again here as a reminder of why Le Mans is absolutely amazing. Also check out this great post at UltimateCarPage that has a detailed breakdown of all 55 cars with an image of each one and a list of their drivers.
[Source: 24 Hours of Le Mans, UltimateCarPage, Photo by JEAN FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty ]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Franz @ Jun 13th 2008 12:41PM
This should be a very interesting race. My money is on the Audis... they've proven more reliable in the past. But damn, those Peugeot cars are quick!
Eddie @ Jun 13th 2008 12:45PM
I look forward to watching it tomorrow.
I miss the Bentley Speed 8. That was one of the coolest cars ever.
Serge K. @ Jun 13th 2008 1:15PM
+1
Couldn't agree with you more. It looked way better than the Peugeot. Probably the best looking closed cockpit car eva!
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 13th 2008 12:51PM
I want wait to see ice racing from Sherbrook, Quebec!
No wait.
I can understand Speed showing NASCAR over Le Mans. I can almost understand NCTS setup. But showing a hill climb and ice racing from 5:30P-6:30P (EDT)? Lexus Test Drive from 7P to 7:30P?
I know it's night at these times, and night racing isn't that exciting, but this particular motorcycle stuff is just cheap junk filler anyway. Show Le Mans anyway. Show earlier racing on tape delay. Anything.
Brill @ Jun 13th 2008 1:42PM
+1
wish they'd just show all 24 hours, just one day in a year i wish i wouldnt see NASCAR on there haha.
JerryL @ Jun 13th 2008 3:06PM
All 24 hours are on eurovision. I watched the whole qualifying session live from France yesterday It's on satellite but I think the channel changes daily.
Justin @ Jun 13th 2008 1:01PM
Good to see a saleen back in contention, but I'm still going for the vettes :)
Christian Schwier @ Jun 13th 2008 1:13PM
Do you guys realize that the GT2 race finish you refer and link to took place at the ALMS 12 Hours of Sebring last year, not Le Mans like you say?
Quattrofan @ Jun 13th 2008 1:23PM
It's good to see Charouz AM Lola having a pace, hopefully reliability will be there too.
Todd @ Jun 13th 2008 1:35PM
I will go ahead and go "on record" with my prediction...
6 hours - First Peugeot has mechanical failure
8 hours - Second and third Peugeot have mechanical failures.
12 hours -Only one of the three is able to return, hundreds of miles behind the Audi.
Predicted winner: Audi
Za @ Jun 13th 2008 4:31PM
The R10s are not really any more reliable than the Peugeots. I want you to keep in mind that one out of two 908s finished last year [in 2nd place outright] and one of three R10s finished [winning it outright].
Peugeot has already proven the car can last 24 hours at Le Mans as judged by their silver last year. People knocking on Peugeot clearly are out of touch with reality.
ronbailey @ Jun 13th 2008 2:38PM
Hey guys, that Porsche vs Ferrari video was from Sebring, not Le Mans.
JS @ Jun 13th 2008 3:28PM
Hey, does anyone remember that application from last year some guy developed where you could get live race results (eg: positioning, lap times, etc..)...where did that go Autoblog? It'd be sweet to have it back for the race since we dont get full coverage like others do.
Brad @ Jun 13th 2008 5:23PM
Are the Penske Porsche Spyders running at Le Mans this year?
Brad @ Jun 13th 2008 5:39PM
Nevermind, I didn't see the link to the lineup when I posted the first time.
Larry Peterson @ Jun 18th 2008 3:54PM
Man, what a race! Is that Audi's fourth straight win in a row? I would love to drive one of those German masterpieces on the track myself! I bet that would be insane.