Peugeot diesels take top spots at 12 hours of Sebring

It has been said that the automobile was born in Germany, but it went to finishing school in France. We think that was supposed to be in reference to Bugatti, but in celebration of their first ever win at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, we're applying it to Peugeot as well. Team Peugeot Total, consisting of Alexander Wurz, Marc Gene and Anthony Davidson, drove their diesel-powered Peugeot 908 HDi FAP to a 13.817-second win at the 58th running of the famed Florida endurance race. Gene and Wurz were teammates for Peugeot's historic victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June of 2009. And if first place wasn't enough for the Lions, a team consisting of Sebastien Bourdais, Nic Minassian and Pedro Lamy came in second place in their own Peugeot.

The French, not one to pass up the chance to insult the Germans, also broke a serious German winning streak at Sebring with these standings. Until this year, the Germans had won the event every year since 1998.

The Peugeot 908 HDi, plagued early in its life by a series of losses to the Audi R10 and later the Audi R15 diesels, now leaves no doubt that it is a force for Audi to reckon with. To be fair, the Audi R15 was not present at this year's race in Sebring, but after getting trounced by Peugeot twice last year, first at Le Mans and again Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in September, Audi might've made the right move by skipping Sebring this year and resting up for the big dance in France come June.

The 908 is powered by a 5.5L 100° V12 HDi diesel, the maximum allowed for Le Mans Prototype rules, and puts out a reported 730 hp and 890 lb/ft of torque. This is the same engine that Peugeot teased us with a few years back with its 908 RC Concept.

[Source: Tampa Tribune]