H+19: the Peugeot n°1 goes hunting

La Peugeot 908 HDi FAP n°1 is now the only hope of victory for the Peugeot Total team. If the mission seems difficult, the manufacturer wants to believe in it until the end. Certainly, the morale of the troops is damaged, such bad luck has befallen the Blues. Breakages of all kinds disrupted the racing of the four 908s involved. Unthinkable. The Peugeot team is in shock, still stunned by all these problems from elsewhere.

From then on, the Peugeot n°1, not spared from problems (electronic box change and trip into the gravel), represents Peugeot's last hope. Oreca's 908, fifth, seems too far away to hope for a podium. On the other hand, the No. 1 has become the Peugeot clan's last chance to shine. So much so that Anthony Davidson attacked again and again, at the risk of surprising his competitors, overtaking them in incongruous places and receiving cautions. But, after everything that happened to Peugeot, this tough hunt seems legitimate.

Running regularly in 3?21? 3:22, the Briton wants to bring the 908 as close as possible to the two leading Audis before handing over the wheel to Alex Wurz. The mission is not simple but, driving faster than the R15 TDI drivers, Davidson knows that he can gain as the laps go by. For his part, Romain Dumas, at the wheel of the No. 15 R9 TDI, leading the race, did not give up and responded with similar times.

After 19h15 of racing, the Frenchman seems safe from a return from his pursuers, unless a mechanical failure disrupts the Audi race. But these are impressive. If their top speed is not their strong point, their regularity and reliability command respect. Final answer at 15 p.m.