The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP is a sports prototype racing car built by the French automobile manufacturer Peugeot to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, starting in 2007.[1] This effort, in development since 2005, was publicly unveiled on 15 June 2006. It competes with the Audi R10 TDI, being the second diesel engined sportscar from a major manufacturer. This was Peugeot’s first Le Mans effort since the end of the Peugeot 905 project in 1993.
Chassis
In preparation for new rules released by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) on 16 June 2006, which would require all LMP1 cars to be closed cockpits by 2010, Peugeot unveiled the 908 with a closed cockpit, the first Le Mans Prototype (LMP) since the Bentley Speed 8 to race with such a design. Peugeot’s choice to use a closed cockpit was likely intended to allow easier compliance with the 2010 rules, as well as allowing Peugeot to run a larger air restrictor due to the closed cockpit design mandating the use of air conditioning.[2]
An early 908 design model shown in 2006
Peugeot also felt that weight, centre of gravity, and operational drawbacks were able to be overcome by better chassis rigidity and aerodynamics with using a closed cockpit design. The cockpit uses a unique 2 part door system with the upper part of the door (the window) swinging forward and out with a hinged plate (part of the sidepod) forming the lower part of the door that can be either swung out or removed completely, this was reportedly done to allow the car to conform to current regulations regarding door size. The body is a carbon fibre monocoque instead of a conventional open structure to offer better rigidity and lower weight.[3] Front and rear suspension are linked, steering is electrically powered, magnesium wheels come from BBS. The car measures 4.65 m (183 in) × 2 m (79 in) and weighs 925 kg (2039 lb) minimum.
Peugeot announced they would build the 908 chassis themselves, instead of relying on another manufacturer to build it for them. The decision by Peugeot to build the chassis themselves has left Henri Pescarolo, who was looking for involvement in the Peugeot project, feeling that his future at Le Mans will be in doubt. The Pescarolo Sport team had been strapped for cash since Peugeot initially dropped their engine program in 2003, and Pescarolo was looking to possibly run the factory squad, similar to the way Reinhold Joest runs the factory Audi effort.
The 908 name is also shared with a Peugeot concept saloon/sedan, named the 908RC, which shares the diesel V12 engine from the 908 sportscar.
The Peugeot 908 is not to be confused with another sportscar of the same number that successfully raced from 1968 to 1981, the Porsche 908.
Racing history
The #7 Peugeot 908 being driven by Jacques Villeneuve at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans test session.
The Peugeot 908 made its race debut at the opening round of the 2007 Le Mans Series season, the 1000km of Monza. The twin 908s were very quick in qualifying, managing to take the top two spots by over a second from the nearest competitor. During the race the Peugeot lead nearly the entire race, although the #8 car of Lamy and Sarrazin suffered numerous difficulties with its doors, leaving them to finish third. However the #7 908 of Gené and Minassian held on to take victory in the 908’s debut. At the next round at Valencia, it would be the #8 Peugeot’s turn to take the win, while the #7 car suffered late difficulties and did not finish.
On the 3rd of June 2007, Peugeot managed to best the Audi R10 TDI diesel, setting a Le Mans test day lap time of 3:26.707. This was followed by Peugeot earning pole position on Le Mans qualifying with a 3:26.344 set by Stéphane Sarrazin, again beating Audi – although it is believed Audi did not go as fast as they could, unlike Peugeot (in the race, where the cars were faced directly for the first time, the Audi R10’s were obviously faster than the Peugeots on the straights and much more stable and less forcing on the corners). In the race itself the #8 Peugeot managed to finish second to the Audi R10 after covering 359 laps. The #7 Peugeot sister car had to withdraw from the race in the final hour due to engine failure.[6] When the stricken car reached the pits for the second time, Peugeot mechanics made no effort to resolve its problems and simply withdrew it from the race.
Following the break for Le Mans, the Peugeots returned to the Le Mans Series. Peugeot #8 would take two straight victories at Nürburgring and Spa before the #7 908 took the last two wins of the season at Silverstone and Interlagos. Winning three races andfinishing in five out of six, 908 #8 won the LMP1 teams’ championship, while the #7 car would suffer some reliability issues and would settle for third in the championship, behind Pescarolo Sport.
For 2008, Peugeot expanded their 908 program to include the 12 Hours of Sebring. Although the sole 908 led early, mechanical problems dropped the car from contention. However, the 908 completed the event, serving in preparation for a return to Le Mans. Back in the Le Mans Series, the two team 908s now had to face newcomer Audi, as they too entered two R10 diesels. The 908 however opened the season with a victory in Catalunya, marking the first time a 908 has beaten an R10, as well as winning the Spa 1,000 km. For Le Mans they are running 3 cars, and at Spa and for Le Mans for two of the cars have added former F1 drivers Jacques Villeneuve to partner Gene and Minassian in the no 7 car and Austrian Alexander Wurz in the no 8 car with Sarrazin and Lamy. Although the Peugeot 908 started on pole position in 2008 Le Mans, it was soon to be beaten by the Audi R10 in the rain during the race when the R10 just kept pounding it round the circuit. The R10 put up the fight and won in the end.
Source Wikipedia
Le Mans 2008
View this video of Le Mans 2008
See more at http://www.peugeot-sport.com/
and http://www.peugeot-sport.com/EN/endurance/peugeot908.htm
Peugeot race report
| Racing series |
LEMANS |
| Date |
2008-06-15 |
VICTORY ESCAPES PEUGEOT WHICH PUTS TWO 908 HDi FAPs ON THE PODIUM AT LE MANSThe 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours produced one of the most exciting finishes in years and ended with Team Peugeot Total securing its second consecutive second place with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in the famous endurance race. The No.7 car shared by Marc Gene/Nicolas Minassian/Jacques Villeneuve emerged from the rainy early morning as the team’s best chance for victory and the trio never gave up the chase. The No.7 car was joined on the podium at the finish by the No.9 sister car of Franck Montagny/Ricardo Zonta/Christian Klien, while the third Peugeot 908 HDi FAP made it three cars in the final top-five. Inevitably, however, there was a sense of frustration within the team for not having succeeded in pulling off what it saw as its principal challenge of the 2008 season.Despite the disappointment of not reaping the rewards of all the effort and energy invested in what was always seen as the highlight of Team Peugeot Total’s 2008 programme, the Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs lost no time in revealing their competitive potential by qualifying on the first three places of Saturday afternoon’s grid. The Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs then went on to practically dominate the first 14 or so hours of the race.The No.8 Peugeot of Lamy/Sarrazin/Wurz emerged as the early pace-setter during the first two hours, but it then fell back after suffering a gear selection problem which took six laps to resolve. The No.7 car briefly inherited top spot before allowing the No.9 Peugeot of Montagny/Zonta/Klien to move into the lead following an incisive quadruple stint from Franck Montagny. As night began to fall, however, then leader Christian Klien (Peugeot No.9) was nudged into a gravel trap while overtaking a slower competitor. The No.7 sister car profited from the incident to ease into the provisional lead shortly after 10pm.Marc Gene, Nicolas Minassian and Jacques Villeneuve consequently led the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours for much of the night, even when rain began to fall over the French venue shortly after 4 o’clock in the morning, although this change in the conditions gave their rivals a new lease of life. By 5.17am, the No.2 Audi was in front, and it then profited from the wet weather to gradually extend its advantage. Meanwhile, Franck Montagny (Peugeot No.9) succeeded in stealing third place back from the No.3 Audi.The ferocity of the race became more intense when rain started to fall again over certain portions of the track with one hour remaining. With nothing to lose, Nicolas Minassian decided to stay out on slicks while the No.2 Audi stopped to fit rain tyres. It was a gamble but, in the end, the gap between the top-two cars remained basically unchanged all the rest of the way to the chequered flag.
Team Peugeot Total nonetheless left Le Mans with a spectacular record to its credit: that of the fastest ever race lap in the 24-hour classic which was the work of Stephane Sarrazin on his 102nd lap of the 13.629km circuit which he covered at an average speed of 246.068kph in the No.8 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. In doing so, he also came within a whisker of the benchmark lap- time of Jackie Oliver which stands since 1971 (a 3m 18.4s, but posted without the Hunaudières Straight chicanes!) thanks to a 3m 19.394s on Saturday evening!
Source: Peugeot Sport
Images
From Silverstone, Le Mans, Spa and Monza 2008
