Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Red Bull to place Raikkonen, Loeb and Coulthard in Peugeot 908 HDi at Le Mans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/report-red-bull-to-place-raikkonen-loeb-and-coulthard-in-peuge/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/report-red-bull-to-place-raikkonen-loeb-and-coulthard-in-peuge/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/report-red-bull-to-place-raikkonen-loeb-and-coulthard-in-peuge/#commentsFiled under: ,


Peugeot 908 HDi - Click above for high-res image gallery

Motorsports of late have been gripped by the crossover of racing drivers from one discipline to another, but one of the most established migrations in motor racing has always been between Formula One and Le Mans. The great (but unrelated) Hills - Phil and Graham - both won the F1 championship and Le Mans, but none have done so since Jochen Rindt in 1970. Lately, Peugeot especially has been seeking F1 drivers to pilot its 908 HDi against the venerable Audis at the famous 24-hour race, but that could step up a notch if the latest rumors from France hold any Evian.

Peugeot has registered three factory works cars to challenge Le Mans next year, plus one mystery car that has only been listed as a privateer entry. According to the latest reports, that entry could be fielded by Red Bull. The energy drink company has one of the most comprehensive networks of racing talent under its wings, but what's catching the most attention is three of its most prominent drivers.

Six-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb, whose Citroen C4 rally car is sponsored by Red Bull, has raced Le Mans previously, and has been linked to a return to the endurance race. 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen will likewise be driving next year in a Red Bull-sponsored C4 fielded by Citroen (Peugeot's sister company). Finally, David Coulthard was largely responsible for Red Bull's foray into F1, and though retired from actively racing, remains an advisor and test driver for the team.

While these rumors could prove nothing more than exactly that, if Red Bull were to bring these three talents to La Sarthe, they would surely be a force to be reckoned with.


Gallery: Peugeot 908 HDi


[Source: AUTOhebdo via Le Blog Auto and Axis of Oversteer]

REPORT: Red Bull to place Raikkonen, Loeb and Coulthard in Peugeot 908 HDi at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's mid-June and that means it's time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans again. If the past decade is anything to go by, the number one contenders will again be the factory Audis, which have won eight of the last nine races (all nine if you count the 2003 as the Audi it truly was). For the past two years, the big battle for overall glory has been between the diesel-powered Audi R10 and Peugeot 908, and this year looks to be no different aside from Audi having an all new car, the R15, still with TDI power.

While the Peugeots have shown superior speed the last two years, the Audis have had better reliability and pit work. This year, the R15s appear to have made up the speed deficit, and the Germans look set for victory again if the crew can keep them running. Unfortunately for Audi, the race won't start with one of its cars in the lead, as Stephane Sarrazin has once again captured the poll in his Peugeot 908 for a record third straight year. Alan McNish managed to qualify one of Audi's three R15s right behind Sarrazin, but the other two cars managed to qualify only sixth and seventh on the starting grid. Three other Peugeot 908s will start from third, fourth and fifth, respectively, which means diesel power penetrates all the way back to the fourth row on this year's starting grid.

For those interested in following Audi's progress this weekend, the automaker is following up up its Sebring Facebook coverage with even more social media stuff this weekend. You can find photos, videos and news at AudiR15TDI.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Our own Damon Lavrinc will also be reporting live from Le Mans this year, so keep an eye on Autoblog and make sure to follow our Twitter feed all weekend long.

[Sources: Yahoo Eurosport, Audi, AutoCar | Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images]

Peugeot takes pole at 24 Hours of Le Mans for third straight year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're still a good couple of years away from the 2011 Le Mans season (give or take, depending on if you're looking at the entire series or just the headline race), but the Peugeot team has already started working on its next LMP1 endurance prototype. The French automaker launched the current 908 HDi in 2007, and was scheduled to use the hybrid 908HY version of the car (pictured right) this year, but reports indicate that the team hasn't been testing the car since its introduction over half a year ago.

Introducing a new car for next year was ruled out as the regulations are set to change for 2011. However Peugeot is eager to demonstrate that it is committed to staying in racing, while admitting that economic circumstances will form the ultimate determination of the racing efforts' future.

[Source: Autosport]

REPORT: Peugeot already working on 2011 successor to 908 Le Mans racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 76th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place this weekend, and just like last year, Audi and Peugeot will be duking it out in front with their diesel-powered LMP1 cars. The Audi R10 is a proven race machine, both durable and fast, but the Peugeot 908 has often times proved faster. Late yesterday at the first qualifying session for the endurance race, the 908 proved to be the fastest by far when it shattered the lap record at Le Mans by 7.8 seconds! The car was being driven by French driver Stephane Sarrazin, who man-handled the 908 around the track in 3 minutes and 18.513 seconds. A truly amazing feat, though what's more incredible is that the next five fastest times also beat the previous lap record, two of which were Audi R10s. Unfortunately, the second and third fastest times behind the fastest Peugeot 908 were two more Peugeot 908s. The Peugeot cars are clearly faster than the Audis so far in qualifying, but that was the case last year and Audi pulled out a win just like it has the past four years in a row. Unlike the Le Mans Series races where Peugeot has won the first three races so far this year, Le Mans is about endurance and Audi has proven seven out of the last eight years that it can last longer than the rest.

[Source: Reuters, Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty]

Peugeot destroys Le Mans lap record in qualifying originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Le Mans has seen its fair share of spectacular crashes, perhaps most notably the Mercedes CLR-GTR that caught air and did several flips before landing outside the guard rail back in 1999. While not as outrageous as the Mercedes, Peugeot caught some air as well this past weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans test when Marc Gene lost control of his 908 Hdi and hit the wall at over 120 mph. Luckily, Gene was able to walk away from the crash and will be able to drive in the race in less than two weeks. Footage from the crash can be seen after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Mark!

[Source: YouTube via LeMans.org]

Continue reading VIDEO: Peugeot goes flying at Le Mans

VIDEO: Peugeot goes flying at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot had a great season in Le Mans racing last year, having taken the series title but narrowly missing victory at the main event. The French team is ready to bring the diesel fight back to Audi's doorstep, and too that end has recruited yet another Formula One driver to pilot the diesel-powered 908 Hdi at the 2008 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ricardo Zonta drove for BAR-Honda, Jordan and Toyota, and until last season served as a test driver for Renault. Although he never won a grand prix, he did more relevantly take the FIA GT championship in 1998 after his Mercedes broke down at Le Mans.

While Peugeot has yet to announce its line-up for the 2008, last year the roster included several names from Formula One, including former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve (with whom Zonta drove at BAR), four-time Champ Car champ Sebastien Bourdais (who starts in F1 this year for Scuderia Toro Rosso) and veteran Ferrari test driver Marc Gené. Alex Wurz, who in 1996 became the youngest driver ever to win Le Mans and recently signed as a test driver for Honda F1 after leaving Williams, is also rumored to be part of Peugeot's line-up when they it announce sometime in February.

[Source: Autosport]

Gallery: Peugeot 908 HDi


F1 drivers line up to drive the diesel Peugeot 908 Hdi at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot 908 HDi Le Mans Prototype
Click image for hires photo gallery

As you can see above, Peugeot has unveiled the official race livery for the fantastic-looking 908 Le Mans prototype that the automaker will campaign as a two-car team in the European Le Mans Series and the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans. Those of you who've been following the car's development know that it's driven by Peugeot's HDi FAP V12 diesel engine, which should produce upwards of 700 horsepower and an monstrous 850 ft-lbs of torque. Le Mans will provide motorsports fanatics with the ultimate showdown, as the closed-roof French racer takes on Germany's world-beating Audi R10 TDI pair in what's sure to be match for the ages. It will be the first time the cars compete against each other, as the Audis remain stateside competing in the American Le Mans Series while the Peugeots campaign in Europe. This is gonna be a lot of fun to watch.

Three more shots of the Pug in its race threads can be found in the attached gallery, which also contains a slew of other images ranging from the HDi FAP V12 to the unpainted car undergoing testing.

[Source: Peugeot]

Gallery: Peugeot 908 HDi



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Le Mans-bound Peugeot 908's race livery unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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