24 Heures du Mans 2009 - Peugeot Wins
June 11, 2009
Peugeot has found the right formula this year. Three years after returning to Le Mans to battle Audi with the diesel powered 908 HDi, Peugeot won this year's 24 Heures du Mans. And what a win it was: Peugeot took the first two places followed by long time rival Audi.
24 Heures du Mans 2009 post scrutineering comments
June 11, 2009
First, enjoy some more 24 Heures du Mans 2009 Scrutineering pictures on flickr.
So now, what about this year's scrutineering? First of all, it was the last year scrutineering is held at the Quinconces des Jacobins. Organizers didn't decide on the new site yet but they say they want to keep it in town in order to preserve the contact with the Le Mans public.
Second, if you've been there you must have noticed it rained like crazy both days. Second day was extremely annoying because of the frequent storm bursts. Everybody was soaking wet. Even Audi's Dr. Ulrich noticed this was the first time ever he experienced bad weather during scrutineering. But if you think the weather annoying, imagine the few hundreds horny high school girls that came to see Gray's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey, stumbling everywhere and ruining everybody's pictures. People like Dempsey should not be allowed to attend scrutineering at Le Mans! On the other hand Dempsey collects a lot of charity money for two children's hospitals, one in Seattle and one in Paris. Somebody's actually giving him many hundreds of euros - which is even more hundreds of US dollars - for every lap his car will complete. So please Dempsey, don't play Schumacher, stay on the track and keep the money flowing in!
What else is worth noticing? Oh yeah, many many diesels. Audi's three R15s look really cool and aggressive and there is also a private team that will run two of last year's R10s. Then Peugeot have their usual diesels on the grid plus the one they handed over to good old Hanri Pescarolo who's now got a fair chance to compete with the factory teams.
Yes, and this year's 007 and 009 are LMP1s, looking ok - I still hate Aston's recent orange Gulf makeup. I think the Aston prototypes would've looked a lot better in their traditional dark green color.
One amusing detail is that Ramain Dumas, official Porsche driver racing a RS Spyder for Penske in the ALMS is now racing the 24 Hours for Audi. Ain't that fun? You should've heard Dumas last year bitching about Audi's unfair advantage and so. Last year Porsche even lended him to Pescarolo, so he can fight fight the evil Audis with the best possible car. And who's he racing this year for? Audi of course! I guess the Volkswagen Porsche merger plans are working some magic here.
First pictures from 24 Heures du Mans 2009 Scrutineering
June 8th, 2009
The weather was indeed horrible this afternoon at Jacobins but still I managed to get some nice pictures. Enjoy the first 24 Heures du Mans 2009 Scrutineering pictures on flickr while I'm processing the rest and pot it here.
Rain pouring down over Le Mans on 24 Hours scrutineering day
June 8th, 2009
Indeed a cold rain is pouring down on Le Mans since last night giving me little motivation to go out at the Quinconces des Jacobins to take picture and get up to speed on the latest gossip. But hey, Le Mans is once a year event and it would be a big shame to miss it. In over 10 years since I'm following the 24 Heures du Mans this is the first time we get such bad weather on scrutineering day. So I guess I'll rather hang out in the coffee shops around Centre Jacobins sipping hot chocolate rather than having the usual beer(s) at the Quinconces. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.
The 1000 Km of Spa
May 11th, 2009
Spa wasn't quite like the 1000 Km of Catalunya. First of all Peugeot was there to steal the show but did they? Actually no, they only made Pescarolo shine brighter. The Le Mans based indie team worked on their organizational issues that prevented them to win in Spain and scored an impressive performance. Pescarolo finished in the same lap as Peugeot, only 28 second later. in a 1000 km race, that's very few. Aston Martin finished in third place, one lap later.
Spa was an important test before the 2009 24 Heures du Mans. Peugeot did good and scored a win but Audi wasn't there. Pescarolo left the Astons behind but Aston has much more resources than the independent French team. The 2009 Le Mans is going to be exciting.
Corsa Motorsport to Race a Hybrid LMP1 at the Utah Grand Prix on May 17
May 4th, 2009
Corsa Motorsport is aiming to make history by racing the Q10, a 625 horsepower ethanol - electric hybrid LMP1 prototype at the next American Le Mans Series event in Utah. The team hopes for the Q10 to become the first hybrid ever to race in the 24 Heures du Mans.
Aston Martin wins the 1000 Km of Catalunya
April 6th, 2009
Aston Martin have scored an important win for their official return to LMP1 in the Le Mans Series. The British factory team managed to win against Pescarolo Sport who in the absence of Audi and Peugeot will be their main competitor in the series. Pescarolo's prototype arrived second, only seconds behind the Aston, being held off essentially by their pit stop work flow performance.
So Aston fans can be reassured, after the failed tests session at Paul Ricard the team is back in the game.
Audi Audi uber Alles
March 22nd, 2009
Audi has won the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The brand new Audi R15, driven by McNish, Capello and Kristensen took the first place. Peugeot however has put together a decent effort, with Bourdais, Montagny and Sarrazin crossing the finishing line 22 seconds later. Bourdais even scored the fastest lap. Tom Kristensen, five time Le Mans winner is now also a five times Sebring winner.
Le Mans Series 2009 Official Tests Entry List
March 5th, 2009
The 2009 Le Mans Series official tests entry list was published on the official web site. Everybody's curious to see how the new Aston prototypes are going to perform at their first public performance and I expect them to steal the show in the absence of Audi, Peugeot and Pescarolo.
Pescarolo to race a Peugeot 908 HDi at the 24 Heures du Mans 2009
Feb 26th, 2009
So, I heard this on Cherie FM news this morning while driving to work: rumor goes Le Mans based indie team
Pescarolo Sport, founded and ran by Le Mans hero and multiple 24 Hours winner Henri Pescarolo is going to race a Peugeot 908 HDi in
this year's 24 Hours race.
The report didn't mention why Peugeot is allowing a rival indie team to run its car, nor how Pescarolo can afford a 908 HDi. This is even more surprising when we remember that Peugeot was not very generous in its relationship with Pescarolo. When multiple WRC champion Sebastien Loeb gave up driving for Pescarolo Sport in the 24 Heures du Mans the first year Peugeot entered the competition with the 908 HDi, everybody suspected the main reason was that Peugeot pressured sister company Citroen to dissuade Loeb from attending the event to avoid being beaten by one of their own. Sebastien Loeb drives for Citron in the WRC.
One possibility that would explain why Peugeot are giving their car away is the preparation of a new model. Peugeot could very well have a new car ready by next year and sell the 908s to indie teams. Or Peugeot might decide to give up racing until the economic crisis is over, just like Honda did and let indie teams run the 908s to keep the brand shining.
In any case, the fact that Pescarolo might get his hands on a competitive Diesel LMP1 prototype and be able to fight Peugeot and Audi with equal arms is extremely exciting news. It would be great to see "Pesca" and the gang win once, they deserve it well
Peugeot at Sebring 2009
Feb 20th, 2009
Peugeot have recently confirmed their participation to the 57st 12 Hours of Sebring. The French team
will race two Peugeot 908 HDIs, driven by Minassian, Lamy and Klien for one and Montagny, Bourdais and
Sarrazin for the other. Peugeot is a favorite of the 2009 12 Hours of Sebring as the 908s are tested and tuned
for two full seasons now while their main competitors
will race brand new prototypes. Indeed, Audi will race the new Audi R15 while
Acura will run two new ARX-02As, none of which ever participated in a real race yet.
In previous confrontations the Peugeot 908 HDi always had a speed advantage over the Audi R10 in the straight lines but the Germans always managed to win thanks to their experience and legendary reliability.
It is also nice to see Sebastien Bourdais return to Le Mans racing after dedicating his full last season to Formula 1.
Aston Martin to race in LMP1
Feb 10th, 2009
As reported at Le Mans Series,
Aston Martin entered the 2009 Le Mans Series and the 24 Heures du Mans 2009, in the LMP1 class.
The car is an evolution of last year's Lola Aston Martin. Aston has high hopes for this year's LMP1 venture,
looking forward to a good result in both the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours race.
