2009 908 HDi FAP: a natural born winner
Like the R10 Audi, its main rival initially, the 908 used a 5.5-litre twin-turbo diesel V12 good for more than 700bhp and 900lb ft of torque. But unlike the R10 the 908 ushered in a new era of closed-cockpit sports prototypes , Peugeot rightly figuring that the operational hassle of doors would be more than offset by increased chassis rigidity and superior aero.
Le Mans glory eluded the 908 for two years. But in 2009 Peugeot was again victorious in the world’s greatest race, 16 years after the 905’s swansong. Former F1 pilot and active Mercedes-AMG simulator driver Anthony Davidson tested the 2009 908. He was blown away by just how good a car the turbodiesel Peugeot was.
‘You’re used to the standards at which F1 operates,’ says Davidson. ‘You question whether any other category will come close. But Peugeot Sport was an incredibly professional outfit and I loved their emotion. It was very raw; very French. For a stiff-upper-lip Brit it was a joy to be a part of. They were just so dedicated to the spirit of endurance racing.
Fortunately, sportscar racing’s cycle of feast and famine is now gearing up for a few years of bacchanalian revelry. The good times – and the manufacturers – are back, drawn by the glittering prize of immortality [2023 is the big one: the 100th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours] and a set of regulations that both showcase technology relevant to global marketing and, crucially, offer something like a sustainable return on investment.
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