2009

Peugeot is preparing to do battle with Audi for the third year in a row, and they have been undefeated at Le Mans since 2004. The two manufacturers are entering three cars. Peugeot will continue with the 908 HDi FAP (equipped with a particulate filter system) when Audi launches the R15. Peugeot driver Stéphane Sarrazin achieved his third consecutive pole position after 2007 and 2008. 

Te Peugeots would occupy the top three positions from the initial exchanges through the Hunaudières. Sixteen years later, the French manufacturer was starting to dream of another victory at Le Mans.

The positions would freeze after final Audi was forced to enter the pits four hours before the end of the race due to an overheating problem. The Peugeot no. 9 and the no. 8, in second, were on course for the double. The Sochaux manufacturer offers a “photo finish” with the grouped arrival of its three cars to immortalise a very telling victory. 

Alexander Wurz won the Le Mans 24 Hours for the second time, thirteen years after his victory in 1996. This is the biggest gap between two wins for a driver. David Brabham won the race sixteen years after his big brother Geoff, who shared the wheel of the winning 905 in 1993 with Eric Hélary and Christophe Bouchut!

One of the prints is not authentic!

It was believed that pilot Marc Gené had not pressed hard enough at the foundry to leave all of his fingers hollow. The founders therefore completed the hand, without knowing that the Spanish driver was short of a knuckle in his right hand.