08 Nov 2010 1,000 km of Zhuhai : VICTORY AND TITLES FOR PEUGEOT

Photo : Nicolas COUSSEAU - ACO/Nikon

The Chinese public has been able to witness a beautiful 1000 km of Zhuhai. Two titles were almost certain for the French team before the start but it was only victory that interested the great duo of endurance, Peugeot and Audi. In GT2 manufacturers, the title went to Ferrari.

No doubt the traditional dragon ''Made in China'' which came weaving down the grid between the cars, fifteen minutes before the start, gave ideas to Franck Montagny. The driver of the Peugeot 908 HDi #2 that was spitting flames from the start, literally leaving his opponents standing, once the pack was released by the safety car.

The tone was set, the pace of this final round of the first year of ILMC would be furious.

While Montagny flew away, the battles in his wake between Bourdais (Peugeot #1), the Audi of Kristensen (#7) and Capello (#8) were tough.

A respite, however, was at hand for Bordais when both German cars (obviously a bit more thirsty) stopped first to refuel. The track began to dry and the green surface was very abrasive to the tyres, hurting both the two top teams. From the third stop, Audi began to systematically change the tyres on the R15s while Peugeot continued to ask its drivers to double stint the same set. That handed the advantage to outsiders who had equal tyre wear. Peugeot were significantly faster. However, after 3 hours and 40 minutes tension, Allan McNish managed to pass Montagny, while he was in the pits, then Pagenaud who was in trouble with his tyres and brakes.

The race reversed and Peugeot drivers were pushing hard. The #2 made a trip to a gravel trap shortly before 16:00 and Sebastien Bourdais made contact with a back marker, earning him to stop to change the bodywork of the 908 #1 and a penalty in the form of 'Stop and Go' penalty that put an end to any chance of victory.

The intervention of the safety car allowed the Peugeot #2, following the incident at its sister car, to catch the leading Audi who was ultimately passed during its final stop, 35 minutes before the end of the race. But even before the Peugeot also stopped, uncertainty reigned.

Fifteen minutes from the chequered flag, Sarrazin was returned to his pit to deliver a few litres of diesel and emerged under the nose of Kristensen which, despite all his talent could not catch. The 908 #2 crossed the line with less than 5 seconds ahead of the Audi #7 after 1000 km of racing!

"The last laps were very tight," explained Stéphane Sarrazin after arrival. I tried to keep up despite brake problems. I managed to stay ahead of Tom. The team did a great job, Franck (Montagny) too. The perfect weekend for us! "

A perfect finish for Peugeot winning the race and also team and constructors titles in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.
"I think this finale for the spectators was amazing”, said Tom Kristensen trying to be positive before concluding with these words, believing he was held up by the second Peugeot during his final rush on #2: “Stéphane was incredibly fast but what a finish that could have been?”. "It was a fantastic race ending to a fantastic season," said his team-mate Allan McNish.

It was just as in GT where BMW, who could maintain a very faint hope of title in GT2 had a remarkable race in China. Jorg Muller and Dirk Werner's BMW M3 took them to victory but it was not enough to stop Ferrari winning the first constructors ILMC trophy in GT2 with only seven points more than Porsche. The F430 GT, which was shared Bruni and Vilander, ended in third place in its category, ranking high enough to capture the manufacturer title in GT2.

The relentless pace of the Porsche GT3 Hybrid of Bergmeister and Long was impressive. The first GT first to finish the race - but ranked outside classification - finished in sixth place overall in the 1000 km of Zhuhai and made only four pit stops! A performance that earned the German manufacturer the Motul trophy for technological innovation.

Another reward for Porsche was the ILMC team title for GT2 thanks to the season of the Felbmayr-Proton team that was remarkable in every way.

The consistency of Oak Racing and Larbre Competition during this first season gave ILMC titles to these in LM GT1 and LM P2. French organizations who are inextricably linked with endurance racing and who have performed well during the three rounds of the series: Pescarolo-Judd for Oak and a Saleen S7R for Larbre.

Oak also made a double by also winning the Michelin Green X Challenge.

The ILMC 2010 is now complete. Next appointment is as soon as next March 19th at Sebring in the 12 hours, for the first round of a competition that seems, certain to be even more hotly contested.

Photo : ZHUHAI (PRC), 1 000 KM OF ZHUHAI, 7 NOV 2010. Peugeot win the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup!