Date: 13-14 June 2009

Number of competitors: 55

Number classified as finishers: 32

Winners: David Brabham, Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz (#9 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP)

Distance covered by the winners and average speed: 5,206 km (382 laps) at an average 216 kph

Pole position: Stéphane Sarrazin (#8 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP) in 3:22.888 at an average 241 kph

Highlights:

• After 1992 and 1993, Peugeot won its third win at the 24 Hours. The other two factory 908 HDi FAPs made it to the chequered flag thanks to Franck Montagny/Sébastien Bourdais/Stéphane Sarrazin (2nd) and Nicolas Minassian/Pedro Lamy/Christian Klien (6th).

• Actor Patrick Dempsey took the start in his first 24 Hours, at the wheel of a Ferrari F430, and finished in 30th place. Brazilian driver Bruno Senna was a rookie at the race.

• Set to drive the #14 Audi for the private team Kolles, Indian Narayn Karthikeyan dislocated his shoulder on Saturday 14 June a few hours before the start of the race. His two teammates Charles Zwolsman, Jr. and André Lotterer did the race as a duo, finishing seventh.

Motorsport in 2009:

- Jean Todt was elected President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. In 1992 and 1993, he was Peugeot's team manager for its first two wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

- 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans winner BMW ended its involvement in Formula 1.

What else happened in 2009?

- Nine months after his election, U.S. President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Price.

- On 25 June, singer Michael Jackson died at the age of 50.

 

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY 14 JUNE 2009. Winners from left to right: Marc Gené is the first Spaniard to win the race, Alexander Wurz won his second victory after 1996 and David Brabham joins as a winner his older brother Geoff, victorious in 1993 with Peugeot.