Peugeot celebrates one-two victory at 12 Hours of Sebring

Peugeot is on course to retain the Le Mans 24 Hour title after victory at Sebring

Team Peugeot Total has proved it is well prepared for June’s gruelling Le Mans 24 Hour race after a convincing victory in Sebring. Peugeot secured its third consecutive one-two finish in the ALMS season opener.

The team – including drivers Marc Gené and new British recruit Anthony Davidson – set the pace throughout the event in their 908 HDi FAPs. And their success demonstrates Peugeot’s determination to retain the Le Mans 24 Hour title when the famous endurance race takes place on June 13-14.

Marc Gené said: ‘This was great practise ahead of Le Mans, both for the drivers and everyone in the team. It was good training for overtaking round what is a very demanding circuit.’

After starting the 12 Hours of Sebring from the front row of the grid, the two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs – the No.7 and No.8 cars – stayed together, separated by seconds at most.

And after 12 hours of racing – and 367 laps – the No.7 car driven by Alexander Wurz, Marc Gené and Anthony Davidson was first past the line. Following closely behind was the No.8 car, driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Nicolas Minassian and Pedro Lamy.

After the 2009 Le Mans and last autumn's Petit Le Mans, Sebring is Peugeot's third straight one-two finish. Indeed, not only did Peugeot score a resounding victory, the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP is the first French car to win at Sebring since the race was first held in 1952. Meanwhile, the fastest lap of the race was set by Sébastien Bourdais.

Peugeot Sport Director Oliver Quesnel said: ‘Reliability promises to play a key role at Le Mans, and the two 908 HDi FAPs ran like clockwork here, and our refuelling work, race strategy and the work of the entire team were all very strong, too. We can be proud to have added a French victory to this race's roll of honour, and the 908 has now succeeded in winning all the main endurance races. It's a promising result, but we can't afford to take our eye off the ball."

FINAL POSITIONS

PLACE	CAR	TIME
1	Peugeot 908 HDi FAP	12hr 0m 54.36s
2	Peugeot 908 HDi FAP	+ 13.817s
3	Lola-Judd	+3 laps
4	Porsche RS Spyder	+14 laps
5	Honda	+18 laps

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