Peugeot's quality for endurance

In a clear demonstration of determination, advanced technology, product quality and endurance, the team at Peugeot Sport took on all competitors at Le Mans and after 5,205 kilometers, (3,234 miles) won in convincing style.

Driven over the 24 hours by Marc Gené, David Brabham and Alex Wurz, the awesome 5.5-litre V12 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP circumnavigated the 13.62 kilometer (8.46 mile) circuit for 382 laps.

2009 saw the 77th running of the classic Le Mans 24 Hour race with a convincing third win for Peugeot (with the 905 in 1992 and 1993), after two second place finishes with the 908 HDi FAP in previous years.

Having again secured pole position in each of the last three Le Mans 24 Hour races, Peugeot led the race in convincing style with a fine demonstration of endurance quality with all three Peugeot Sport 908 HDi FAP cars finishing. The victory saw the V12 diesel powered cars finish in 1st, 2nd and 6th position in this French classic endurance event.

It was a hugely popular win for the 230,000-strong crowd, many of them highly partisan home fans. For Peugeot's winning drivers Marc Gené, Alexander Wurz and David Brabham, it was an especially emotional victory.

Gené, who brought the No.9 car home to the race finish, confessed that he shed tears of joy as he guided his Peugeot 908 HDi FAP towards victory. "I'm not an emotional person, but I have to admit that I cried on the last lap," said the first-ever Spanish winner. "When the three Peugeots were in formation I understood just how big this event is. It's easily the greatest thing I've ever experienced."

It was Alex Wurz's second Le Mans victory, while for David Brabham the win came on the 50th anniversary year of his father's first Formula 1 championship, and 16 years after his elder brother's Le Mans triumph - also with Peugeot. "Being part of this great team with Peugeot was amazing. We had a fantastic car, we did great pit stops and the strategy was perfect" said Brabham.

Peugeot's No.8 car - driven by Franck Montagny, Stéphane Sarrazin and F1's Sebastien Bourdais - lost its early lead after a long pit stop but recovered to come home in second.

The third 908, No.7 piloted by Nicolas Minassian, Pedro Lamy and Christian Klien, was involved quite early on with a pit stop collision that resulted in considerable repairs taking 25 minutes. A determined drive to sixth place saw Nicolas set the fastest 8.46-mile lap in 3.24 minutes at an average speed of 240 km/h.

"It was a tough race," said Peugeot Sport's director Olivier Quesnel. "There was great expectation from the public, and from Peugeot, after missing out last year."

Peugeot is now in its third year of competition with the 908 HDi FAP and victory at Le Mans has been the sole aim of Peugeot Sport since it was first unveiled in 2007. The win is testimony to the strength, power and reliability of Peugeot's HDi FAP diesel technology - the very same technology that powers Peugeot's award-winning road cars.

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Credits: JRC