Posts Tagged ‘908 hdi’

PEUGEOT SPORT RELEASE DETAILS OF THEIR NEW PEUGEOT 908 AND 2011 PROGRAMME


Completely new car retains 908 name
New 3.7 litre V8 HDi FAP diesel engine
Same successful driver line up as 2010
Full Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) Campaign for 2011.
Last week in Paris, Peugeot Sport unveiled their new 908 endurance racing car which they will campaign in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and the ILMC.

Peugeot Sport has a busy 2011 ahead of it with the launch of its all new Peugeot 908 and a comprehensive endurance racing programme. After a strong season in 2011, which saw it claim the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) title, Peugeot Sport will be looking to defend its crown, although the highlight of the season will again be the Le Mans 24 Hours (June 11-12). The calendar for this year’s ILMC features seven races, including Le Mans which will carry double points. This year’s visit to Le Mans is also eagerly awaited as the recently introduced new technical regulations have given rise to a new generation of cars.

Peugeot’s all new car, built to the new technical regulations introduced for 2011, was originally given the code name 90X. However, with the 908 HDi FAP helping Peugeot build up an enviable record of world class successes, including the title in the 2007 Le Mans Series, a one-two finish at Le Mans in 2009 and the inaugural ILMC crown in 2010 it was decided to keep the same name for the new car.

“We have chosen 908 as the name of the new car in order to build on the wave of success with which it is associated,” says Peugeot’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Xavier Peugeot. “At the same time, the new car fits perfectly with the brands new modern image. It mirrors the modernity that is clearly visible in the new 508 and the recently announced new 308. At Peugeot, we have always sought to associate our commitment to motor sport with the real world and with our model range. The name 908 consequently stood out as the obvious choice.”

Following in the wake of the legendary Peugeot 905 and the 908 HDi FAP, the 908 is the third car to have been developed by Peugeot Sport for endurance racing. Like the previous cars, its mission will be to extend Peugeot’s winning record at Le Mans which already stands at three wins, in 1992, 1993 and 2009.

The 908 complies with all the latest technical regulations and the new for 2011, “shark fin engine cover”. It is a closed-cockpit car, with the same size front and rear wheels, and is powered by a new 3.7 litre V8 HDi FAP 550 bhp diesel engine. It means Peugeot Sport will be competing in endurance racing for the fifth year running with a diesel engine equipped with a particulate filter (FAP). Since 1998, more than seven million HDi diesel engines have been sold worldwide, helping Peugeot to earn a reputation as one of the largest producers of clean diesel power.

The 908 shares the same technology as is used in all Peugeot’s HDi diesel road cars. There is a very close collaboration between the group’s engineers and specialists and their counterparts at Peugeot Sport, to ensure that expertise in areas such as fuel consumption, respect for the environment and performance is shared between road cars and motor sport.

Immediately after the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, Peugeot Sport’s engineers started to put pen to paper to design a new car destined to comply with the new, upcoming technical regulations. They also drew on all their experience and knowledge learned from the 908 HDi FAP: “The regulations have evolved a great deal but we didn’t start with a clean sheet of paper,” notes Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director. “The experience we have gained over the past four years helped to steer the decision-making process and our technical choices, although the only component which has been carried over at the end of the day is the windscreen wiper! One of the principal challenges we faced was to design an all-new car while continuing to race another at the same time. We also needed to set ourselves sound objectives with a view to obtaining the best possible package with regards to engine performance, aerodynamics and weight distribution.”

908 Overview

A closed-cockpit car: “we knew from previous testing work that there is little significant difference between open and closed cockpit cars in terms of their aerodynamic performance. At the same time, despite the added constraints they bring when working on them at races, closed-cockpit cars provide additional safety for the drivers. We therefore decided to stay with the same solution.”

Engine: “We have also made full use of our experience with the 908 HDi FAP’s V12 diesel engine. We decided to opt for a turbocharged V8 diesel engine for the 908 but, with characteristics which are very similar to those of the V12. The angle of the “vee” is 90 degrees (compared with 100 degrees in the case of the V12) to improve the engine balance. The cubic capacity is 3.7 litres and the new V8 HDi FAP engine produces a peak power of 550 bhp. We ran the engine for the first time on the dyno on January 25, 2010.”

Four identical wheels: “Today’s LMP cars have a shortcoming with regards to ultimate grip of the front wheels. The logical way to cure this was to increase the size of the contact patch between the tyres and the track, which entailed running bigger front wheels, within the limits specified by the regulations. This aspect of the car’s development was carried out in close collaboration with our partner Michelin.”

Aerodynamics: “Given the big reduction in engine power resulting from the 2011 regulations (a reduction of approximately 150 bhp), we had to take a fresh look at the trade-off between aerodynamics, drag and down force. The latter has been significantly reduced in order to maintain a reasonably high top speed.”

The new car made its track made its track debut on 27th July 2010. “This was the deadline we set ourselves, although we knew we would almost certainly run into teething trouble given that this was an all-new car. We did indeed have problems but we succeeded in resolving them one by one as we got more and more kilometres on the clock. One of the very positive points we found was that the car’s handling lived up to our expectations straight out of the box. Between the car’s track debut in 2010 and the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours, we will have completed twelve tests in all, at a number of different circuits,” concludes Bruno Famin.

Full 2011 Championship

The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup has expanded from three rounds in 2010 to a seven-round championship in 2011, including two races in the USA (Sebring and Petit Le Mans Road Alanta), three in Europe (Spa-Francorchamps, Imola and Silverstone) and one in China, plus the Le Mans 24 Hours.

“We clearly want to defend our ILMC title,” underlines Oliver Quesnel, Director of Peugeot Sport. “We won all three rounds of the series in 2010, but there is one round we are especially targeting this year, and that is Le Mans. This legendary event has now been incorporated into the championship, a move we believed was necessary. Including Le Mans will be very beneficial for the championship and will put an even bigger spotlight on endurance racing which is a discipline that permits car makers like Peugeot to showcase their know-how and technology in extreme conditions. We have, therefore, submitted entries for two cars to the ACO for every round, with the exception of Spa-Francorchamps where we will take three cars to use it as a full-scale dress rehearsal ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Driver Line-up Le Mans 24 Hours 2011

The driver line-up for the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours will be as follows:

Car No7 – Alexander Wurz / Anthony Davidson / Marc Gené
Car No8 – Franck Montagny / Nicolas Minassian / Stéphane Sarrazin
Car No9 – Sébastien Bourdais / Pedro Lamy / Simon Pagenaud

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Posted in Diesel News, HDi Topics

Pole for Peugeot 908 for the 4th time in a row

908 HDi Peugeot


For the fourth time in as many years a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP has taken pole position for tomorrow’s 78th Le Mans 24 Hours, with the team’s three cars occupying the first three places just ahead of Team Oreca’s Peugeot in fourth. Changeable weather on the second day of qualifying prevented a new battle for the top spot but allowed Team Peugeot Total to concentrate on perfecting its set up in preparation for the start of the race on Saturday at 15h00.

Starting on wet tyres, the three 908 HDi FAPs of Team Peugeot Total ventured out on a damp but drying track with the firm intention of taking advantage of every minute available to them. Following a clearly defined programme, the focus was on testing different tyre compounds and aerodynamic set ups. As the session advanced the times dropped, though without threatening to surpass yesterday’s performance; Alexander Wurz (Car No 1) posted the fastest lap of 3’23”238, ahead of Simon Pagenaud (Car No 3) and Stéphane Sarrazin (Car No 2).

With conditions improving during the ultimate qualifying session the times started to fall fast over the last 15 minutes. Comfortably installed in the first three places, the experienced Team Peugeot Total concentrated on validating the fruit of their labours. Sébastien Bourdais nevertheless posted the fastest lap of the day of 3’20”212, to the delight of his many supporters who turned out to cheer on their local hero. Aboard his Peugeot 908 HDi FAP No 3, Sébastien achieved his first pole position thanks to yesterday’s quickest lap of 3’19”711.

The Peugeot 908s have monopolised the first two rows of the grid for tomorrow’s race, with the three factory cars, No 3, the No 1 and then the No 2 ahead of the Peugeot of Team Oreca.

Pedro Lamy, Marc Gené and Franck Montagny are the nominated drivers who will start Saturday’s race.

Olivier Quesnel (Peugeot Sport Team Director). “We worked hard and we couldn’t have done better, but we haven’t won anything yet. We are ready but that doesn’t mean we are going to have an easy weekend. Taking the pole is one thing, taking the victory is quite another.”

908 HDi FAP No 3: Sébastien Bourdais (FRA) – Pedro Lamy (POR) – Simon Pagenaud (FRA)
Sébastien Bourdais : “This pole proves that we are strong, now we have to turn that strength intovictory. We worked well today and the goal of the last 15 minutes was to confirm the car’s balance, not to chase after another pole. Now I want the race to start, time is going to drag until Saturday. We have the equipment, the speed and the people to win, but we need to stay humble and hope for a little luck.”

908 HDi FAP No 1: Anthony Davidson (GBR) – Marc Gené (ESP) – Alexander Wurz (AUT)
Anthony Davidson: “Until that last run I didn’t feel all that prepared and it took me a while to get up to speed. But then I got comfortable and my lap times started to come down. Now I can’t wait for race day to come.”

908 HDi FAP No 2: Nicolas Minassian (FRA) – Franck Montagny (FRA) – Stéphane Sarrazin (FRA) Nicolas Minassian : We have gone well over these last two days. Yesterday Franck worked on the tyres and then Stéphane went after a time. He could have got the pole, but was unlucky with the traffic. The weather was changeable which was both challenging and useful. Now our mechanics are going to have a lot of work, while we rest and prepare for the race.”

Qualifying results

1 – PEUGEOT 908 HDi FAP n°3 (Bourdais) : 3’19’’711

2 – PEUGEOT 908 HDi FAP n°1 (Wurz) : 3’20’’317

3 – PEUGEOT 908 HDi FAP n°2 (Sarrazin) : 3’20’’325

4 – PEUGEOT 908 HDi FAP n°4 (Lapierre) : 3’21’’192

5 – AUDI R15 TDI n°9 (Rockenfeller) : 3’21’’981

6 – AUDI R15 TDI n°7 (McNish) : 3’22’’176

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Posted in Diesel News, HDi Topics

2010 – ANOTHER EXCITING YEAR AHEAD FOR PEUGEOT SPORT AS BRITISH DRIVER JOINS THE TEAM


Just over a month ago, Peugeot unveiled its new corporate identity which encapsulates high standards and excitement, two qualities that are especially applicable to Motor Sport.

Like Peugeot, Peugeot Sport is on the offensive. As it prepares for the future by building on its recent successes, not only does Peugeot Sport serve as a shop window for the Brand, both technologically and in terms of image, but it also mirrors the Marque’s new corporate identity, which puts Motion and Emotion at the heart of its strategy.

2009 was a highly successful year in motor sport terms: topping the bill was a one-two finish in the Le Mans 24 Hours, a clean sweep of the podium places for the 207 Super 2000 in the Rallye Monte-Carlo, as well as third consecutive Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ titles in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, thanks to the efforts of several Peugeot subsidiaries, and led by Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle, who won the Drivers’ title in their first year of competing. All this is the result of the spirit of all the Peugeot competitors; a spirit which will continue in 2010 in the hunt for further success and excitement.

Riding high on the back of last year’s Le Mans one-two finish, Peugeot Sport is aiming to do it again in 2010. In the fourth and final year of the 908 HDi FAP’s career, Team Peugeot Total has pressed on with its development, getting down to work on the very next day after that historic win, striving to squeeze even more improvements out of the car.

Test sessions and races at a variety of venues have been programmed in order to be as well prepared as possible for the 78th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, a race which always throws up unique challenges, uncertainties and changes of fortune, all part of its legendary status. But even the most meticulous preparations cannot hope to reproduce the specific features and surprises this race invariably delivers. Since its historic success on June 14, 2009, Peugeot will have racked up a total of eleven test sessions consisting of endurance runs, set-up work and two demanding warm-ups in the form of two actual races.

Eleven drivers have been chosen to fly the Peugeot flag in 2010, running with race numbers 1, 2 and 3, the numbers which were previously the property of the Marque’s much respected rival. The 2009 winners will carry the Number 1 plate: Marc GENE (ESP,) Alexander WURZ (AUT), plus a newcomer to the Peugeot Sport ranks, Anthony DAVIDSON (GBR). Marc and Alexander will be tackling their fourth Le Mans, the Austrian having won twice, in 1996 and 2009. Anthony has contested the French race twice (2002 and 2009) and tested the 908 in a session at Le Castellet at the end of 2008.

In the N°2 908 HDi FAP, three French drivers Nicolas MINASSIAN, Franck MONTAGNY and Stéphane SARRAZIN, form the trio that previously raced together for Oreca in 2002 and again in a memorable race last November at Le Mans, in the 207 Relais relay race which formed part of the season’s final Rencontres Peugeot Sport meeting. It’s worth noting that Stéphane has taken pole position for the last three years at Le Mans in the 908 HDi FAP.

The third crew is made up of local boy Sébastien BOURDAIS, who renews his partnership with his United States-based countryman Simon PAGENAUD and Portugal’s Pedro LAMY. Sébastien and Pedro had also been Le Mans team-mates back in 2007, at the wheel of the N°8 Peugeot.

Christian KLIEN will be the reserve driver for Team Peugeot Total, while Gregory GUILVERT, having impressed at a test in the 908 (his prize for winning the 2009 THP Spider Cup), takes on the role of test driver.

On the racing front, Peugeot’s first test comes in the shape of the full-on challenge of dealing with 12 hours of racing against the heat and difficult track at Sebring (Florida, USA), which provides the backdrop for the year’s first appearance of the two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs, shared by

Davidson/Gene/Wurz (N°07) and Bourdais/Lamy/Minassian (N°08). The French squad will first tackle a test session the previous weekend and then resume testing two days after the endurance race. The second event is at Spa-Francorchamps in a round of the Le Mans Series and this will serve as a dress rehearsal for the whole Peugeot Sport team, with three cars entered. Eleven test sessions and two races should enable the team to prepare thoroughly for the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Peugeot Sport is also working on life after Le Mans and, at the moment, there are two further races on the calendar for the 908 HDi FAP: the Le Mans Series round at Silverstone, in September, then – assuming it is confirmed by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest – the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup race in Shanghai. For Peugeot Sport, the second half of the year is also the time to look to the future, specifically the immediate future and the new 2011 regulations, which signal the start of a new era for endurance racing. Some of the new rules have already been announced, which means work can now begin on a new car.

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Posted in Diesel Tuning, HDi Topics