The Team Peugeot Total with its diesel-powered 908 HDi FAP, this was its first victory since 2007.
The Peugeot squad monopolised the top-two places overall in this year's contest.
Flag To Flag Win For Peugeot At Le Mans
To compound Audi’s misery it was almost a flag to flag win with the exception of a short instance early in the race on Saturday afternoon. Both Peugeot cars had stints in the lead with N°8 car of Sarrazin/Montagny/Bourdais initially leading, then with the N°9 car (Gené/Wurz/Brabham) which inherited top spot just ahead of the fivehour mark, before going on to defend its advantage until the finish.
The Third Peugeot Car Came Home In Sixth
The N°7 car (Minassian/Lamy/Klien) rounded off Peugeot's weekend by completing this year's thrilling Le Mans clash in sixth spot after collecting a series of minor setbacks during the night.
Peugeot Sport Director, Olivier Quesnel: "Before the start, I used a French cycling analogy to describe the crew of the N°8 car as 'sprinters', the N°7 crew as 'road sprinters' and the N°9 drivers as 'warriors'. Today, it was the 'warriors' who won. I really sense that the public and Automobiles Peugeot wanted this result. We faced a huge challenge and we succeeded in rising to it. We were here as challengers, and our mission was to try to topple the favourites. And that is exactly what we did, essentially by steering clear of the different potential pitfalls in our path. It turned out to be a terrific race, and Peugeot Sport is a truly magnificent team. I am so proud of all the people who were involved in this project. This win is Peugeot Sport's win."
Spaniard Marc Gené, Australia's David Brabham and Austrian Driver Alexander Wurz Win In Le Mans For Peugeot
The N°9 Peugeot's distinctly international line-up of Spaniard Marc Gené, Australia's David Brabham and Austrian driver Alexander Wurz owed their victory to a trouble-free run which saw them take over at the top when the other two 908 HDi FAPs were delayed during the first quarter of the race.
"It's such a great feeling to have won," beamed David Brabham for whom victory comes at his 16th attempt and whose brother Geoff formed part of Peugeot's winning trio back in 1993. "Peugeot Sport did a tremendous job; they really did. It's a great team, they gave us a 100 per cent reliable car and the three of us drove a faultless race."
Alexander Wurz, the youngest driver ever to win the endurance classic (1996), notched up his second success in La Sarthe today: "What made the difference? The fact that we kept it on the track without picking up any damage. We also had a great team behind us, and a phenomenal car. It's a fantastic feeling to have won in France in a French car."
"To have won a race this big is the best thing that has ever happened to me," concluded Marc Gené. "I've never experienced anything like it. It really is a very emotional moment for me."
Final positions: 1, Gené/Wurz/Brabham Peugeot 908 HDi FAP N°9 382 laps (5206km) 2, Sarrazin/Montagny/Bourdais Peugeot 908 HDi FAP N°8 +1 lap 3, Capello/Kristensen/McNish Audi N°1 +6 laps 4, Charouz/Enge/Mucke Lola Aston Martin N°007 +9 laps 5, Panis/Lapierre/Ayari Oreca N°11 +13 laps 6, Minassian/Lamy/Klien Peugeot 908 HDi FAP N°7 +13 laps Etc.
