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Peugeot ends 16-year wait for Le Mans

Source: Agencies | June 15, 2009, Monday | Print Edition

PEUGEOT clinched its first victory since 1993 in the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race with a one-two finish at the Circuit de la Sarthe that ended Audi's five-year reign yesterday.

Spaniard Marc Gene, Australian David Brabham and Austrian Alexander Wurz, driving the diesel-powered Peugeot No. 9, completed 382 laps to give the French manufacturer the win.

David Brabham succeeds his elder brother Geoff, who was at the wheel of the winning Peugeot 905 16 years ago. It was the second victory at Le Mans for Wurz, who won in a Porsche in 1996.

Another Peugeot, driven by Frenchmen Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny, took second place one lap behind.

Eight-time champion Tom Kristensen of Denmark, driving the Audi No. 1, was third six laps behind with teammates Rinaldo Capello of Italy and Briton Allan McNish, one year after the trio prevailed in France.

Audi had won eight of the nine previous editions of the oldest sportscar race, which started in 1923.

Its No. 1 car, which challenged the two Peugeots until the 21st hour, was hit by a string of mechanical problems in the closing stages. It had to change its steering wheel some four hours before the end and was forced to another stop a few minutes later to run checks on the rear of the car involving the whole pit crew.

Peugeot lost a private-run car overnight when Benoit Treluyer spectacularly crashed out. His car was destroyed and the French driver was taken to the medical center but his team said he was fine.

"Reassuring news from the medical center on Benoit," read a statement on the team's Website. "He is resting. He is unhurt, he just needs to stay a couple of hours under observation."

Aston Martin was fourth nine laps off the pace.
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