H+16: Peugeot n°2 surrenders

Of the four 908 HDi FAPs which occupied the first four places on the grid, not a single one encountered any problems. The No. 2 who had been leading the race for several hours has just given up. Audi places two R15 TDIs in the lead.

Published on 13/06/2010 à 07:20

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7:02 a.m.: Peugeot 908 HDi FAP n°2 enters the Hunaudières and spits fire. The turbo is broken, the dreams shattered, the race ruined. Terrible disillusionment for the Montagny, Minassian, Sarrazin crew who had spent most of the race in the lead. In fact, the two Audi R15 TDIs, n°9 and n°8, take the lead.

« It's dead, comments Nicolas Minassian on Peugeot TV. I am disgusted. This race is amazing. There are some who win it like it was a piece of cake and there are those who run behind without succeeding. I am unhappy for myself but also for everyone in the team, we are a big family. We didn't expect it, we never broke a turbo. It never happened. Never never. We'll have to digest this now and work on the new car. »

Certainly, these 24 Hours of Le Mans do not want to smile at Peugeot. Broken suspension attachment for No. 3 (abandonment), electrical box problem for No. 1, change of half rear axle on Oreca No. 4 and, now, turbo failure on No. 2. °908. A terrible race for the Lion firm, which had four XNUMXs in the lead on the starting grid. From a dream situation, the French manufacturer saw the dream turn into a nightmare. “ If I have four cars and I don't win, it's no use to me », Confided Olivier Quesnel about the quadruplet of qualifications. Terribly true.