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ContentLink™
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When the decision was taken to enter a single 908 HDi FAP for the 2008 12 Hours
of Sebring, Team Peugeot Total was clear about its objective which was to prepare
for this year's priority, the Le Mans 24 Hours. The race enabled it to accomplish that
mission and the overall result was finally positive for the team which saw the 908
overcome technical problems to finish the race after spending more than two hours
in front and with the fastest race lap under its belt.
Despite the frustration of not being able to start from pole position after the results
of the qualifying session were scrubbed, Nicolas Minassian started the race for
Peugeot intent on being first into the opening corner.
Watched closely by the entire Team Peugeot Total squad, he achieved his goal and
the car went on to pull out an assertive lead as Portugal's Pedro Lamy and fellow
Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin took over at the wheel of the 908 HDi FAP. Its lead
was practically 35 seconds after the first two hours of racing. However, 52 minutes
later, a hydraulic leak forced Stéphane Sarrazin to make a lengthy pit stop. Despite
losing nine laps, the Frenchman rejoined the race and soon came out on top of his
ensuing duel with Allan McNish before having to make another stop, this time for 45
minutes, again because of a hydraulic problem.
The incident saw the 908 HDi FAP drop to 22nd place, 25 laps behind the leader,
but the three drivers and the team's engineers then worked closely together to put
in a string of fastest race laps which culminated in Pedro Lamy bagging the best
time of the day with a 1m 44.536s (an average of more than 207kph) after eight
hours of racing. This impressive run was interrupted two hours before the
chequared flag when the rear left wheel-bearing had to be changed, and then by
another stop to repair a leak in the air intake system. Determlined not to give up
despite these difficult conditions, the team continued to give its all and Pedro Lamy
eventually crossed the line in 12th place.
Michel BARGE : "The purpose of this race was to see how the car performed over
such a long distance and to work on the reliability of certain technical solutions. At
the end of the 12 hours, the global result was positive. We posted some excellent,
consistent lap times and put the pressure on our main rivals, but we do not lose
sight of the fact that we still have a great deal of work to do. Last but not least, the
heat made it a first class practice run for the team."
Bruno FAMIN: "The race went pretty much as expected. We wanted to show the
car's potential and validate certain parts and I think it would have taken a great deal
of luck to have made it all the way to the flag without any problems! The 318 laps we
completed taught us a great deal, including the performance and consistency of our
2008 Michelin tyres. We lost ground to begin with when we had to stop to repair a
hydraulic leak and then when we had to fit a new rear left wheel-bearing before a
leak in the air intake system resulted in a fall in power. None of these problems are
particularly alarming."
Stéphane SARRAZIN: "Like all drivers, I like to win and I am obviously a little
disappointed because the car was fantastic. I enjoyed the race, especially my scrap
with Allan McNish. I really wanted to come out of that on top to show that we were
the quickest!"
Nicolas MINASSIAN: "It was important to lead into the first corner. The team
deserved it, and I pushed as hard as I could each time I was at the wheel."
Pedro LAMY: "The car was really fast. Despite our misfortunes, I am confident for
the rest of the season which has only just started. I am looking forward to
Barcelona!"
1, Dumas/Bernhard/Collard (Porsche RS Spyder), 351 laps in 12h 1m 39.587s
2, Fernandez/Diaz (Acura), +12.979s
3, Franchitti/Leitzinger/Lally (Porsche RS Spyder), +1m 2.084s
12, Lamy/Minassian/Sarrazin (Peugeot 908 HDi FAP), +33 laps.
Fastest race lap: Pedro Lamy (908 HDi FAP), 1m 44.536s.
NEXT RACE: BARCELONA (April 4-6), first round of the 2008 Le Mans Series
of Sebring, Team Peugeot Total was clear about its objective which was to prepare
for this year's priority, the Le Mans 24 Hours. The race enabled it to accomplish that
mission and the overall result was finally positive for the team which saw the 908
overcome technical problems to finish the race after spending more than two hours
in front and with the fastest race lap under its belt.
Despite the frustration of not being able to start from pole position after the results
of the qualifying session were scrubbed, Nicolas Minassian started the race for
Peugeot intent on being first into the opening corner.
Watched closely by the entire Team Peugeot Total squad, he achieved his goal and
the car went on to pull out an assertive lead as Portugal's Pedro Lamy and fellow
Frenchman Stéphane Sarrazin took over at the wheel of the 908 HDi FAP. Its lead
was practically 35 seconds after the first two hours of racing. However, 52 minutes
later, a hydraulic leak forced Stéphane Sarrazin to make a lengthy pit stop. Despite
losing nine laps, the Frenchman rejoined the race and soon came out on top of his
ensuing duel with Allan McNish before having to make another stop, this time for 45
minutes, again because of a hydraulic problem.
The incident saw the 908 HDi FAP drop to 22nd place, 25 laps behind the leader,
but the three drivers and the team's engineers then worked closely together to put
in a string of fastest race laps which culminated in Pedro Lamy bagging the best
time of the day with a 1m 44.536s (an average of more than 207kph) after eight
hours of racing. This impressive run was interrupted two hours before the
chequared flag when the rear left wheel-bearing had to be changed, and then by
another stop to repair a leak in the air intake system. Determlined not to give up
despite these difficult conditions, the team continued to give its all and Pedro Lamy
eventually crossed the line in 12th place.
Michel BARGE : "The purpose of this race was to see how the car performed over
such a long distance and to work on the reliability of certain technical solutions. At
the end of the 12 hours, the global result was positive. We posted some excellent,
consistent lap times and put the pressure on our main rivals, but we do not lose
sight of the fact that we still have a great deal of work to do. Last but not least, the
heat made it a first class practice run for the team."
Bruno FAMIN: "The race went pretty much as expected. We wanted to show the
car's potential and validate certain parts and I think it would have taken a great deal
of luck to have made it all the way to the flag without any problems! The 318 laps we
completed taught us a great deal, including the performance and consistency of our
2008 Michelin tyres. We lost ground to begin with when we had to stop to repair a
hydraulic leak and then when we had to fit a new rear left wheel-bearing before a
leak in the air intake system resulted in a fall in power. None of these problems are
particularly alarming."
Stéphane SARRAZIN: "Like all drivers, I like to win and I am obviously a little
disappointed because the car was fantastic. I enjoyed the race, especially my scrap
with Allan McNish. I really wanted to come out of that on top to show that we were
the quickest!"
Nicolas MINASSIAN: "It was important to lead into the first corner. The team
deserved it, and I pushed as hard as I could each time I was at the wheel."
Pedro LAMY: "The car was really fast. Despite our misfortunes, I am confident for
the rest of the season which has only just started. I am looking forward to
Barcelona!"
1, Dumas/Bernhard/Collard (Porsche RS Spyder), 351 laps in 12h 1m 39.587s
2, Fernandez/Diaz (Acura), +12.979s
3, Franchitti/Leitzinger/Lally (Porsche RS Spyder), +1m 2.084s
12, Lamy/Minassian/Sarrazin (Peugeot 908 HDi FAP), +33 laps.
Fastest race lap: Pedro Lamy (908 HDi FAP), 1m 44.536s.
NEXT RACE: BARCELONA (April 4-6), first round of the 2008 Le Mans Series
