Just one year ago, the British circuit of Silverstone was about to host the first race in the history of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Since then, Peugeot has almost completely dominated the series.

Of the three events in 2010 and four races so far in 2011, the Peugeot lions have won six times, including five with factory cars. Six drivers have shared those five wins; three for Anthony Davidson (2010 Silverstone, Sebring and Imola 2011), two each for Franck Montagny and Stéphane Sarrazin (Petit Le Mans and Zhuhai 2010); one each for Nicolas Minassian (Silverstone 2010), Alexander Wurz and Marc Gene (Spa 2011).

This impressive record of success includes that of Team Oreca Matmut at the 12 Hours of Sebring 2011. With their Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, Loic Duval, Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre beat the new factort 908, which made its debut in Florida. To date, de Chaunac is the only one to have led a private team to victory in the ILMC.

A single race is missing from this impressive list of successes: the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans. In La Sarthe, the Audi R18 TDI of Andre Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoit Treluyer defeated the three factory Peugeot 908 and 908 HDi FAP Team Oreca Matmut, following an amazing sprint on Sunday that started at seven in the morning. The 24 hours of Le Mans highlighted the exceptional intensity of the duel between Audi and Peugeot, and a new episode waiting for us at Silverstone, land of legends of motorsport, and the birth of the ILMC.

The Silverstone six hours is on the 11th of September, click here for more information.

Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo : SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT (GREAT BRITAIN), 1000 Km of Silverstone, RACE, September 12, 2010. The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Nicolas Minassian and Anthony Davidson, the first winner in the history of the ILMC.