Photo : Frédéric GAUDIN - ACO/Nikon

Vision and winning!

These are the watchwords of Peugeot Sport, who have embarked on the Intercontinental Championship of endurance (ILMC) set by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Three races are scheduled, the first in Europe, the second in the United States (Petit Le Mans 1st and 2nd of October) and third in China (Zhuhai, 6th and 7th of November).

Silverstone will mark the starting point of the ILMC but also the final round of the Le Mans Series. Team Peugeot Total have entered one official 908 HDi FAP #1 driven by Britain's Anthony Davidson and France's Nicolas Minassian, both based near the circuit.

Nicolas will qualify the car and Anthony will start the race. "Silverstone is the first track on which I drove a race car. I have won there in many categories and I can't wait to get behind the wheel of Peugeot to race in front of my home crowd", said Anthony Davidson.

Winning, is indeed the avowed objective of the Team Peugeot Total, who want to start collecting ILMC manufacturers championship points. In this quest, they have the help of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP entered by Team Oreca. Peugeot will also be looking for the Le Mans Series title for official Peugeot Sport driver Stéphane Sarrazin who could claim his second LMS 'driver' crown (first in 2007).

Three Questions to Olivier Quesnel, Director of Peugeot Sport

Why are Team Peugeot Total entered in 2010 ILMC?
"As a manufacturer, we wanted an international championship of endurance to put forward our technologies and know-how into the world and especially in important countries to our markets. The ACO has listened and laid the foundations for a promising challenge with three races in 2010. Added to the regulations for 2011, it is the beginning of a new chapter for the endurance racing. We therefore had to be present and we will make every effort to try to have Peugeot winning in 2010 on three continents."

Why only one official Peugeot 908 HDi FAP at Silverstone?
'We also rely on the presence of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Team Oreca. It also scores points for Peugeot in the ILMC championship. On the other hand it is aiming for the title in LMS that we wish to win. What is important is that there are two leading Peugeots that can score ILMC constructors points. In terms of our drivers, it was natural to engage our "locals" Nicolas Minassian and Anthony Davidson at Silverstone. We opted to share races for each of our nine drivers as equitably as possible, who, I repeat, have renewed our confidence for 2011."

What changes have been made to the 908 HDi FAP for these three races?
"There are no changes just adaptations. The cars will be equipped with their 'high downforce' aerodynamic kit as was the case at Spa and Sebring. On the engine side, we returned to steel rods."

Julien Hergault – Translated by Dave Davies