DataGrange Motorsport

Peugeot Takes Two of Three in the Sportscar Triple Crown After Its Rainout Victory at Petit.

In the third meeting of Diesel Wars between the Audi and Peugeot works under inclement conditions, the Germans get the jump at the starting flag and take advantage of their superior handling in the wet to build a commanding lead over the swifter French entries during the early hours. The rain only intensifies within the fifth hour, prompting many shunts around the circuit, and the Peugeots give up considerable ground to the Audis by promptly pitting for grooved tires. Audi inexplicably delays its own stop and ultimately pays the price when even harder rain causes the German lead entry to spin off the circuit, and a subsequent caution condition forces both cars in for grooved wets. Both Peugeots slip past the parked Audis and promote into the race lead as the weather refuses to relent, and Race Control issues a stop condition early in the seventh hour before calling the event two hours’ later. The speedy yet ill handling diesel Peugeots (08 908 HDi FA, Franck Montagny and Stepahane Sarrazin) gleefully embrace the tremendous victory, its second out of three meetings in 2009 over the devastated Audi faction.