The Audi R18 and Peugeot 908 are the results of different philosophies. This is shown by the analysis of the lap times seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French car is faster in a straight line, the German being most comfortable in the fast corners.

Times by sector are worth studying carefully, because no one knows exactly the aerodynamic configuration of each car. They, however, reveal some interesting trends.

Lap times (race)
2010 - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP #4 - 3'19 "074
2011 - Audi R18 # 2 - 3'25 "289
2011 - Peugeot 908 # 9 - 3'26 "298
Analysis: The reduction in engine power compared to last year amounts to +6.215 seconds per lap.

Sector 1 (Start line -> Tertre Rouge)
2010 - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP #4 - 31 "571
2011 - Audi R18 # 2 - 32 "229
2011 - Peugeot 908 9 - 32 "496
Analysis: This portion is not really long enough to be significant. Audi and Peugeot are covered a by a pocket handkerchief. The best of the rest is the #16 Pescarolo, more than a second slower (33 "718).

Sector 2 (Tertre Rouge -> Mulsanne corner)
2010 - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP #4 - 1'16 "756
2011 - Audi R18 #2 - 1'19 "800
2011 - Peugeot 908 #9 - 1'19 "765
Analysis: Of the three portions of the Mulsanne Straight, Peugeot lead Audi by less than a tenth of a second. However, the top speed of the 908 is higher - 342.9 km/h against 336.4 km/h. The Audi probably makes up time on the chicanes. Last year, the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP passed the speed trap at more than 347 km/h.

Sector 3 (Mulsanne corner -> Finish line)
2010 - Peugeot 908 HDi FAP #4 - 1'30 "054
2011 - Audi R18 #2 - 1'33 "096
2011 - Peugeot 908 #9 - 1'33 "927
Analysis:The presumption that the R18 in quicker in cornering is confirmed by the time the last sector, which includes the Porsche Curves. In this challenging sequence, the Audi R18 is ahead of its rival by more than eight tenths. Multiplied by 269 laps, that makes three minutes ... so perhaps Peugeot lost the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Porsche Curves ...

All the times can be downloaded HERE.

Julien Hergault

Photo: 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, RACE, June 12, 2011. On the straights, the Peugeot 908 was faster than the Audi R18.