Photo : Arnaud CORNILLEAU - ACO/Nikon

17/24 - Friday, 17th December - The 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010

Few would have predicted a 1-2-3 finish for Audi when the Peugeots made a clean sweep in qualifying and were leading at the start of the race, but then the drama began at 17:25, when Pedro Lamy (Peugeot #3) returned to the pits, the victim of a suspension problem. Sebastien Bourdais, helmeted and ready, would not even turn one lap in a race where he had pole position.

Sunday morning was a nightmare waiting for Peugeot who experienced an epidemic of engine problems. At just after 7am the first failure caused the retirement of Franck Montagny, who was ahead in the #2.  At 12:51 Wurz in #1, while in hot pursuit of the leading Audi, experienced a similar terminal failure. Less than an hour later, the remaining 908 #4 entered by Team Oreca Matmut succumbed, and the race finished with the ninth victory for Audi in ten years.

The race was equally eventful in other classes. The HPD ARX-01c was the first LM P2 to surpass the 5,000 km traveled in 24 hours. In LM GT1 the experienced Larbre Competition team  beat the Ford GT, Corvette and private Aston Martin with their Saleen S7-R. In GT2, the Felbermayr-Proton Porsche lay in wait to take advantage of the spectacular duel between the factory Corvette and Ferrari F430 of Risi Competizione. One of the most eventful races of its history proved the golden rule of 24 hours: anything can happen, and usually does!

Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo: 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2010. An unexpected ninth victory and a fourth triple for Audi.