Pagenaud, the title in focus

The opposing struggle Peugeot to Audi on the Road Atlanta circuit will not be the only center of interest of the 13th edition of Petit Le Mans. Indeed, second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, this event will also close the 2010 season of the 2010 American Le Mans Series, which has still not delivered its verdict.

Dominant during a large part of the season, the Highcroft team never managed to outrun Cytosport Muscle Milk. The last races even saw the Porsche RS Spyder take over the HPD ARX-01c from the outgoing champion team. Duncan Dayton's team does not, however, have the obligation to get ahead of its rival; covering 70% of the distance covered by the victorious car would be enough to ensure the coronation.

simon pagenaud could therefore obtain its first ALMS title this Saturday, after coming very close last year, at the time when the tricolor defended the colors of De Ferran Motorosport.

“We have an interesting task ahead of us, which is to keep the car out of trouble in order to win the championship, and it's a challenge that I enjoy. affirms the Frenchman. It hasn?t been an easy championship for us, and I?m really delighted to go into the final stage with a good lead. It will be very important for us to complete 70% of the distance in order to score points, this will be our main challenge, but we also want to fight for victory. It will be great for the fans. 45 cars, many manufacturers and teams from all over the world. It's going to be fantastic. I can not wait to be there. Once we have covered 70% of the distance, then we will give everything for victory. It would be a great way to end the season, and that?s our goal. »

As in the long races, Marino Franchitti will support the Brabham-Pagenaud pair. Brabham, for his part, could win his second crown in a row. The Franco-Australian duo will, however, have to be wary of Klaus Graf, second in the provisional general classification, and who is ready to seize the slightest opportunity offered to him. For this grand finale, the German will share the seat of the Porsche RS-Spyder of the Cytosport team with his compatriots Lucas Luhr and Sacha Maassen, two men who know the car perfectly, having won at the wheel. the LMP2 category in ALMS in 2006.

At the end of the first three free practice sessions, unsurprisingly dominated overall by Peugeot and Audi, the two rival teams exchanged the leading position in the category. For the moment, the best time of the week, achieved during the night session, goes to the HPD ARX 01-C, David Brabham having beaten Lucas Luhr by? six hundredths.

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