Audi places itself ahead of the Peugeot Oreca

Si Peugeot is not officially at the Paul-Ricard circuit, the French manufacturer is represented by the Var team Oreca, which knows Le Castellet perfectly, having its workshops a few kilometers away. No official Peugeot therefore, but a 908 HDi FAP in Oreca colors which will allow the performance of the Vélizy car to be compared to that of Ingolstadt, the Audi R15 TDI, before the 1000 Kilometers of Spa (May 7-9).

Left behind in the first free practice session this Friday, the Audi R15 TDI of Allan McNish and Dindo Capello – Tom Kristensen is not driving, still too weak physically after his tear in the tendon of the left heel – showed itself the most fast from the field in the second session, Friday afternoon, and the third, Saturday morning, a few tens of minutes before qualifying (free practice times below). The Peugeot 908 Oreca found itself a few tenths behind but the qualifying session will be the first real indication of the level of competitiveness of the two LMP1s.

It is then on Sunday, from 11 a.m., that the 908 and the R15 will compete on the track, one against the other. A first duel since the American race at Petit Le Mans last September, which was cut short due to heavy rain. But since then, the R15 TDI, called R15 “Plus”, has changed a lot. The Castellet verdict will therefore allow Audi to know where its car is located at the moment. With the objective of shining in the only race that matters for the Ingolstadt firm, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.