2008 Le Mans Race Report: Scotsman Allan McNish driving for Audi has won the 24 hour race.

The German maker Audi has now won the 24 hour race a staggering eight times in the past nine attempts.

Scottish driver Allan McNish led Audi to its fifth straight victory, he was partnered by Italian Rinaldo Capello and Denmark's Tom Kristensen, who claimed a record individual eighth victory.

The red hot favourite for the event was the Peugeot team as it had claimed the top three places on the starting grid but wet conditions hampered their race and gave the advantage over to the all conquering Audi team.

French team Peugeot started the race in some style as held a one two three lead during the first two hours. However the French team started to suffer electrical problems – two of the cars went down in the third hour.

Four hours gone and Rinaldo Capello took the lead while the Peugeot of Nicolas Minassian was in the pitlane refuelling. The French crowd were cheering again when the car of Minassian overtook the Audi No.2 car of Capello in the fifth hour and lap 71 to recapture the top spot.

The Peugeot car held the lead well into the night – but then came the rain and Peugeot lost its advantage on the dry track, somehow the German marque grew stronger in the wet conditions and the Audi No2 car driven by Kristensen overtook Villeneuve in the 15th hour when the Peugeot car was again refuelling in the pits.

But it was not all plain sailing for Audi – 2 hours left in the race and the lead car of McNish, Kristensen, and Capello collided with a Zytek 07S, but carried on with no apparent damage. The mechanics readied themselves in the pits but the Audi team got away with it and won the 24-hour race.

This meant former Indianapolis 500 winner, and the 1997 Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve missed out on the top spot of the podium for a second year in the row. Villeneuve was partnered by Marc Gene and Nicolas Minassian and completed 381 laps – the same as the Audi car but were four minutes 31.094 seconds adrift of the leader when the race finished. The Peugeot car

of Franck Montagny, Christian Klien and Ricardo Zonta finished third and two laps off the pace.

Le Mans 24 Hour results

1. Tom Kristensen, Denmark; Rinaldo Capello, Italy; Allan McNish, Britain; Audi.

2. Jacques Villeneuve, Canada; Marc Gene, Spain; Nicolas Minassian, France; Peugeot.

3. Franck Montagny, France; Christian Klien, Austria; Ricardo Zonta, Brazil; Peugeot.

5. Pedro Lamy, Portugal; Stephane Sarrazin, France; Alexander Wurz, Austria; Peugeot.

7. Harold Primat, Switzerland; Christophe Pinseau, France; Benoit Treluyer, France; Pescarolo Judd.

9. Tomas Enge and Jan Charouz, Czech Republic; Stefan Mucke, Germany; Lola Aston Martin.

10. Peter Van Merksteijn, Jos Verstappen and Jeroen Bleekemolen, Netherlands; Porsche RS Spyder.

Feb 14, 2009 8:36 AM

Guest :

Once again the strength of the deisel machines came to the fore in the worlds toughest motor race.
The overwhelming dominance of Audi and Peugeot at last years race was a sight to see as they were beginning to lap the petrol entrants after just eight laps.
However it comes as no surprise to hear the authorities are announcing new rules and guidelines to limit their power.
The gap is becoming ever wider year on year thanks to their superior speed and fuel economy, the latter of which enables the leaders to make up to a dozen less pitstops throughout the 24 hours of the event.
Although the sport and the event organisers have an obligation to maintain the highest level of competition between the teams as possible, it seems apparent they are unhappy with diesel power leading the way and are keen to enhance the chances of the petrol cars wherever posiible.
However, I am delighted to learn Aston Martin are attempting to win the race outright with an LMP1 entry on the 50th anniversary of their last victory.
I am sure the massive british contingent in the stands (and the rowdy but hugely entertaining campsites) would be delighted to see the Warwickshire based company fly the flag in style once again.
Although motorsport continues to enthrall the public the world over, I cannot believe the lack of press coverage in britain for the event considering the size of attendance not just from these shores, but from around the globe.
The parade through the city centre on the friday evening followed by the crazy scenes on the Mulsanne straight late into the darkness are incredible.
Anyone with the slightest interest in racing should be sure to make a visit at least once in their lives as nothing comes close to it.