Peugeot defies Audi

The new endurance season opens this weekend with the 12 Hours of Sebring. FEEL THE HEAT! The bumpy circuit of Florida will be the first theatre announced duel between Audi and Peugeot, kings diesel. Master of places since 2000, the manufacturer would continue its series, and climb to its R10 Lion still has a margin on the 908. Audi will have the advantage of numbers with two cars at a Peugeot. Wednesday, Audi and Peugeot were neck and neck during the first free tests, the R10 of McNish-Capello, Kristensen (1'45 "491) ahead of very few of the 908-Minassian Sarrazin-Lamy (1'45" 508) . The departure of the 12 Hours of Sebring will be Saturday at 16:00 (French time). Peugeot defies Audi It is spring! The wind blew strong in the garages teams of endurance and the season that opens at Sebring promises a lot. If all the players believe in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the party starts in Florida where Audi and Peugeot argue their first pions. Confident of his strength, the giant of Ingolstadt awaits the 908 HDi FAP hard. It must be said that no one has as much experience as the German manufacturer remaining on 8 consecutive success at Sebring. But Peugeot has shown during winter testing on this circuit atypical (editor's note: former military airport) that his car was faster than the Audi R10 (1'42 "801 against 1'43" 639). "This track is very different from the modern European circuits, said Stephane Sarrazin very comfortable here. Especially bumpy in some places but after the first few laps the car has proved to be fairly well adapted and we were very pleasantly surprised by the performance that we were able to achieve, demonstrate once again that the chassis of the 908 HDi FAP is excellent. " Nothing really since the nine Lion had already made his fleetness speak at Le Mans before crack at the pace set by the German protos. The problem is the same this year: Peugeot will he drive as fast as the Audi for 12 hours on bumpy pavement hyper? It is in this direction that Michel Barge, head of Peugeot Sport, has launched its major work. Too bad only 908 will start ...