Photo : Philippe CHEMIN - ACO/NIKON

On the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has selected thirty historic cars grouped into three per decade, all up for public vote by race fans. To participate, click HERE and choose one per decade. The vote is open until the 15th of January 2013. Each of the thirty cars will have a short introduction. Today it is the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2009.

In 2007, fourteen years after their previous appearance (and second consecutive victory in La Sarthe), Peugeot was back in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and joined Audi in the use of turbo diesel technology. The new feature of the 908 HDi FAP was its particulate filter (hence 'FAP') which limits emissions. This prototype was immediately fast and scored four consecutive pole positions at Le Mans. Three of them were by Stéphane Sarrazin in 2007, 2008 (in a time of seven seconds faster compared to the previous year) and 2009, plus one by Sébastien Bourdais in 2010. Peugeot eventually beat Audi in 2009 with a superb 1-2, led by Alexander Wurz (second victory in La Sarthe), Marc Gené (first Spanish winner of the 24 Hours) and David Brabham. For five seasons from 2007 to 2011, the Audi-Peugeot duel continued, worthy successors of the Ford-Ferrari clash in 1967, and brought the two manufacturers into the legend of Le Mans.

Year : 77th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (13th & 14th June 2009)
Number of cars entered : Four
Informations techniques :
5.5 litre V12 Turbo Diesel.
Drivers :
Nicolas Minassian-Pedro Lamy-Christian Klien (n°7)
Sébastien Bourdais-Franck Montagny-Stéphane Sarrazin (n°8)
David Brabham-Marc Gené-Alexander Wurz (n°9)
Jean Christophe Boullion-Simon Pagenaud-Benoît Tréluyer (n°17)
Results :
1st (David Brabham-Marc Gené-Alexander Wurz)
2nd (Sébastien Bourdais-Franck Montagny-Stéphane Sarrazin)
6th (Nicolas Minassian-Pedro Lamy-Christian Klien)
Retired (Jean Christophe Boullion-Simon Pagenaud-Benoît Tréluyer)
Notes : David Brabham joined his older brother Geoff (who won in 1993 in a Peugeot 905) on the roster of Le Mans winners.