Le Mans

Paris, June 25, 2008 – Two unique and specially restored Ford race cars will return to the famous Le Mans 24 Hours circuit for the 2008 Le Mans Classic between July 11 and 13. After painstaking restorations, the two cars, a 1923 Model T Montier and a 1973 Ford Capri RS2600, are taking to the track to compete again at the iconic Sarthe circuit under the 'Ecurie Ford France' banner.

Ford's Capri and Montier Ready for Le Mans Classic 2008

15th June 2008 -- One year on from Aston Martin’s first victory in the GT1 class in 2007 – which was the first Le Mans win since the company triumphed overall in 1959 – the Aston Martin DBR9 009 car of David Brabham, Antonio Garcia and Darren Turner has claimed another GT1 win at the La Sarthe circuit.

Just like last year, the 009 car – this time resplendent in the iconic Gulf livery – took the class victory at Le Mans, for sports cars based closely on their road-going equivalents.

Peugeot puts two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs on the podium at 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours

2008-06-15 -- The 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours produced one of the most exciting finishes in years and ended with Team Peugeot Total securing its second consecutive second place with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in the famous endurance race.

Audi R10 TDI Remains Unbeaten in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race

Ingolstadt/Le Mans, 15 June 2008 – The Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten in the Le Mans 24 Hour race: in its third attempt, the diesel sportscar won the French endurance classic yet again. After the incredible thrill of the 76th edition of the race, Dindo Capello (Italy), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland) triumphed at the wheel of the Audi R10 TDI number 2.

2008 Le Mans 24 Hour Race: Tom Kristensen driving the winning Audi R10 TDI

June 12, 2008 -- The Aston Martin Racing team has enjoyed a successful final qualifying session for the 76th Le Mans 24 Hours, which will get underway at 3pm on Saturday 14 June. This evening witnessed the second of two sessions – following on from the first qualifying period yesterday – to determine the places on the grid for the endurance classic.

Aston Martin DBR9 at 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours

12-06-2008 -- The 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours kicked off this evening with the first of the week’s two qualifying sessions, and the three Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs were immediately on the pace to collect the top three places on the provisional grid. Stéphane Sarrazin was the fastest man on the track today, posting a blistering 3m 18.513s for Team Peugeot Total with the N°8 car. That’s almost four seconds quicker than his best effort during the preliminary practice day earlier in the month (3m 22.222s), as well as a stunning improvement of 7.831s over his pole-winning time for Peugeot in 2007.

Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Racing in 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours

Ingolstadt, 02 June 2008 – World premiere in motorsport: At the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours on 14/15 June, the three Audi R10 TDI prototypes entered by Audi Sport Team Joest will race for the first time with the next generation of Biofuel manufactured from Biowaste and promising a reduction in the emission of CO2 by almost 90 per cent when compared with traditional diesel.

Le Mans Series: 1,000km de Spa- Francorchamps May 11, 2008

2008-05-12 -- Just like the first two rounds of the 2008 Le Mans Series, the 1,000km de Spa-Francorchamps turned out to be yet another fiercely-disputed, drama-filled race. The result saw Team Peugeot Total claim its third success from three starts without suffering the slightest technical problem. Nicolas Minassian, Marc Gené and Jacques Villeneuve shared the winning N°7 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, but the team's other car crashed out shortly after the two-hour mark.

28th April 2008 -- Following an historic GT1 class victory at the endurance classic last year, the 2008 line-up is once again an exciting blend of youth and experience, with four new drivers joining two members of the winning crew from last year. The evocative colour scheme, a departure from the traditional Aston Martin Racing Green, is also new for this year thanks to a partnership with Gulf Oil International.

Car number 007 will be crewed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany), Andrea Piccini (Italy) and Karl Wendlinger (Austria).

Car number 009 – the same number as last year’s class-winning car – will be driven by David Brabham (Australia), Antonio Garcia (Spain) and Darren Turner (Great Britain).

2008-04-28 -- The outcome of the 1,000km di Monza, second round of the 2008 Le Mans Series, was only decided at the end of the thrilling final 20 laps which saw Pedro Lamy first past the chequered flag with the N°8 908 HDi FAP following a virile scrap with Mike Rockenfeller and his Audi R10. The Peugeot of Minassian/Gené started from pole position but was delayed by transmission problems which dropped the car to 34th. The Franco-Spanish crew recovered from the setback, however, to bag fifth place to put Peugeot on top of the Manufacturers’ standings.

10 January 2008 -- Aston Martin Racing will return to Le Mans in 2008 to defend its GT1 title in the distinctive blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil.

Two Aston Martin DBR9s will look to emulate Gulf’s first victory at the 24 hour race 40 years on.

Aston Martin DBR9