The #908 Peugeot 8 on pole!

After an accident during Formula qualifying Le Mans, those in the higher category are falling behind. It was only at 19:20 p.m. that the first cars set off on the track, like a starting grid in the pit line. Without looking for exceptional times, the different crews are making their mark. The first reference time is signed by Lola Aston Martin n°008 (3?32??412) before Pedro Lamy offered the Peugeot n°7 the best time (3?30??442). But in the following seconds, Franck Montagny seriously lowered the mark with the 908 n°8 (3:25:608).

In fact, this time will knock out the competition, who will not be able to approach it for many tens of minutes. Montagny even had the luxury, at 20:48 p.m., of improving his best lap one after the other, to finally sign a nice 3:24:852. The countdown to the end of the session is approaching zero and Allan Mc Nish (Audi n°1) takes the opportunity to go out one last time. Crossing the starting line, for his flying lap, ten seconds from the end of the session, the Scotsman takes a solo lap of the track. This worked out well for him since, at the last second, he beat the time of the No. 8 Peugeot, with a superb time of 3:23:650. However, at Audi, they said they were not interested in pole?

The start of the second qualifying session got off to a very calm start. After all, many teams do not play the times but adjust their cars for the race. Thus, the time achieved by the Audi keeps the Peugeot 908s at bay for a long time. But Stéphane Sarrazin does not hear it that way. Author of the last two poles at Le Mans on the 908, the Cévenol continues the fast laps half an hour from the end of the session.

To gain tenths, Sarrazin takes risks and almost catches the Audi R10 of the Kolles team driven by Andre Lotterer. His first attempt suffered, the Alésien only managing to get within 78 thousandths of the R15 n°1. The second chance is no more successful. Twelve minutes from the end of the session, Sarrazin finally achieved his goal by setting a time of 3:22:888: the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP n08 will start from pole on Saturday at 15 p.m.! The French firm can rejoice since the three other 908s (two official and one Pescarolo) rank from 3rd to 5th place. But Audi has not said its last word, the R15 undoubtedly not having expressed its full potential this Thursday.