H+8: Peugeot n°2 takes the lead

Everything seemed to be working well for the #908 Peugeot 1 HDi FAP, which was moving at a good pace and widening the gap on its pursuer, the #2. The change of driver had gone well, Marc Gené had returned to the seat, replacing Alexander Wurz. But, after 7h30 of racing, amazement: the n°1 returned to her box. Peugeot Sport remove the engine cover and change the alternator. After long minutes of immobility, Marc Gené gets back into his car and leaves in seventh position.

In the meantime, the No. 908 2 took the lead. Franck Montagny, who took over from Nicolas Minassian, regained the leadership position he had occupied at the start of the race when he got the better of Pedro Lamy (Peugeot n°3). Very fit, the former Super Aguri driver in F1 continues the fast times.

In second place, Oreca's Peugeot 908 continues its mission and puts in a very serious race. Olivier Panis has fun behind the wheel, before passing it to Nicolas lapierre, who started the race. The native of Thonon-les-Bains, second, is more than a hundred seconds behind the leading Peugeot after eight hours of racing.

In third place, Mike Rockenfeller's Audi R15 TDI benefits from Peugeot's setbacks. While the Lion firm had completed a quadruple in qualifying, the No. 9 Audi managed to climb to third place. Behind, we find the two other Audi R15 TDIs, the No. 8 of Benoit Tréluyer and the No. 7 of Allan McNish. However, just after the start of the ninth hour, Benoit Tréluyer took the advantage over Mike Rockenfeller and climbed onto the podium.

In LMP2, the debates are still largely dominated by the Hondas (HPD ARX-01c) of Strakka Racing and Highcroft Racing. Third, the No. 35 Pescarolo Judd from OAK Racing is already a long way from hoping for category victory, unless the HPDs show a lack of reliability.

In GT1, the great race of the No. 60 Matech Ford GT placed the trio composed of Romain Grosjean, Thomas Mutsch and Jonathan Hirschi in the lead. And even quite widely since the closest car, the No. 72 Corvette, is more than a lap and a half away.

It is in GT2 that the race is the most indecisive. THE Ferrari, who dominated the start of the race, handed over to the two Corvettes No. 64 and 63 now driving in the lead. Nothing is decided but Chevy seems in a good position to win the Le Mans classic, three months after its fiasco at the 12 Hours of Sebring.