Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
Peugeot’s main Motorsport focus for 2008 is winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race.
It has entered three 908 HDi FAP sports cars in the French classic which will be run in June.
The diesel sports racers will also run in the European-based Le Mans Series and (two cars) and will debut in the American Le Mans Series’ season-opening Twelve Hours of Sebring next month.
In its Le Mans debut last year, Stephane Sarrazin, Pedro Lamy and Sebastien Bourdais drove the Peugeot diesel to second place.
“(For 2008) our work has focused on saving weight and extracting superior, reliable performance from the engine with a view to enabling us to race at the same pace as we lap in practice,” says Peugeot Sport technical director Bruno Famin.
“Given the little time we had last year, this was something we weren’t able to do with the 2007-spec car.
“In addition to ongoing work on the aerodynamics, our programme has benefitted the suspension, steering, differential and gearshift control.
“However, because of the weight inherent in the diesel engine, we have yet to get down to the minimum 900kg weight threshold specified in the new regulations.”
For 2008, Sarrrazin and Lamy return, along with Marc Gene, Nicolas Minassian and Jacques Villeneuve.
Christian Klien, Franck Montagny, Alexander Wurz and Ricardo Zonta all join the team.
Minassian, Lamy and Sarrazin will drive the Peugeot at Sebring next month, and the team hopes to gain valuable data at in the Florida race to further develop its Le Mans car.
