Backstretch Motorsports

2009 becomes the year of the long waited victory for the #9 Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP and its drivers, all ex-Formula One drivers, David Brabham (whose brother Gary won with Peugeot 16 years ago), Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz (who won here in 1996 on his debut).

The French racing team Peugeot Sport located at Vélizy-Villacoublay is directed by Olivier Quesnel, with Bruno Famin as technical manager and Serge Saulnier as team manager.

The French car manufacturer has taken part in many well known motor races since their formation. At Indianapolis, such as Indy Races (wins in 1913, 1916 & 1919), rallys (5 times World Champions), the Paris Dakar rally raids ( 4 wins), the WSC (champion in 1992) and ,of course, endurance races (Le Mans, LMS, ALMS).

The works team was taking part for the 7th time (1926, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and won in 1992 (D.Warwick/Y.Dalmas/M.Blundell) and 1993 (G.Brabham/C.Bouchut/E.Hélary).

This time, the Peugeot 908s did not fail. For their third participation, the French diesel prototypes managed to maintain a very high pace in order to beat Le Mans masters for the past ten years, Audi. Peugeot put two of their three works cars in the top two places, ahead of an Audi R15. The Marc Gene, David Brabham & Alexander Wurz crew won the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans in the #9 Peugeot 908, one lap ahead of the #8 Peugeot 908 driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Franck Montagny & Stéphane Sarrazin. The race was very intense throughout, with the Safety Car coming out for 2 hours and 42 minutes altogether. Audi quickly lost two of their three works cars to an accident and mechanical problems. The Ingolstadt team was never really in a situation to beat the Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP cars.

The #1 car was one lap behind most of the time, with Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen having to put up with many mechanical problems which prevented last year’s winners from taking the lead and beating the Peugeots. The #1 Audi R15 TDI finished third overall, six laps down, just ahead of the #007 Lola Aston Martin of the AMR Eastern Europe.

The Fastest Lap was set by Nicolas Minassian on lap 259 in a time of 3:24.352.

LMP2 was won by the #31 Porsche RS spyder of Casper Elgaard, Emmanuel Collard and Kristian Paulsen.

LM GT1 was won by the #63 Corvette C6.R of Johnny O’Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia.

LM GT2 was won by the #82 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT of Jaime Salo, Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo.

There were 32 classified finishers.

Porsche saved their weekend with the Danish victory of the #31 Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder in LM P2 driven by Elgaard/Collard/Poulsen, 2nd was the #33 Speedy Racing Sebah Lola Judd Coupé (Kane/Leuenberger/Pompidou) and the #24 Oak Racing Pescarolo Mazda (Nicolet/Hein/Yvon) completed the podium in 3rd.

1st and 2nd in LM GT1 were #63 works Corvette (O’Connell/Magnussen/Garcia) and #73 Luc Alphand Aventures private Corvette (Jousse/Maassen/Clairay) and in 3rd place finished the #66 Jetalliance Racing Aston Martin DBR9 driven by Lichtner-Hoyer, Muller and Gruber, but half of the depleted LM GT1 field retired (#68 JLOC Lamborghini Murcielago, #70 Alphand Corvette C6.R and #64 works Corvette C6.R).

Last but not least Ferrari topped the podium in LM GT2, in which was a very poor year for Porsche who did not have a finisher in the first 6 places. #82 Risi Competizione F430 GT won for the second year in a row, #97 BMS Scuderia Ferrari and #83 another Risi Competizione Ferrari,finished 2nd and 3rd. For the first time in 10 attempts at Le Mans the Spyker Squadron from Holland recorded a finish in 6th place in LM GT2.

2009 24 Hours of Le Mans — Unofficial

Pos No Cl T. Team Drivers Veh Time L. Gap Km/H Best Km/H

1 9 LMP1 M Peugeot Sport Total GENE Marc/WURZ Alexander/BRABHAM David Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 24:01:45.442 382 216,664 3:26.048 238,121
2 8 LMP1 M Team Peugeot Total SARRAZIN Stephane/MONTAGNY Franck/BOURDAIS SebastiePeugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 24:01:46.106 381 1 T 216,095 3:24.844 239,521
3 1 LMP1 M Audi Sport Team Joest CAPELLO Rinaldo/KRISTENSEN Tom/MCNISH Allan Audi R15 TDI 24:05:19.738 376 6 T 212,734 3:26.632 237,448
4 007 LMP1 M AMR Eastern Europe CHAROUZ Jan/ENGE Thomas/MUCKE Stefan Lola Aston Martin 24:02:36.162 373 9 T 211,435 3:29.360 234,354
5 11 LMP1 M Team Oreca Matmut AIM PANIS Olivier/LAPIERRE Nicolas/AYARI Soheil Oreca AIM 24:02:09.306 370 12 T 209,800 3:33.732 229,560
6 7 LMP1 M Team Peugeot Total MINASSIAN Nicolas/LAMY Pedro/KLIEN Christian Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 24:01:47.082 369 13 T 209,286 3:24.352 240,097
7 14 LMP1 M Kolles KARTHIKEYAN Narain/LOTTERER Andre/ZWOLSMAN CharlesAudi R10 TDI 24:02:53.898 369 1:06.816 209,125 3:31.904 231,541
8 16 LMP1 M Pescarolo Sport TINSEAU Christophe/JOUANNY Bruce/BARBOSA Joao Pescarolo Judd 24:02:38.522 368 14 T 208,595 3:33.048 230,297
9 15 LMP1 M Kolles ALBERS Christian/BAKKERUD Christian/MONDINI Giorgio Audi R10 TDI 24:02:54.170 360 22 T 204,024 3:33.788 229,500
10 12 LMP1 M Signature Plus RAGUES Pierre/MAILLEUX Franck/ANDRE Didier Oreca Judd 24:03:06.322 344 38 T 194,929 3:37.864 225,207
11 008 LMP1 M Aston Martin Racing DAVIDSON A/TURNER D/VERSTAPPEN Jos Lola Aston Martin 24:02:37.258 342 40 T 193,860 3:29.688 233,988
12 13 LMP1 M Speedy Racing Sebah BELICCHI Andrea/JANI Neel/PROST Nicolas Lola Aston Martin 24:03:07.138 342 0:29.880 193,794 3:31.416 232,075
13 3 LMP1 M Audi Sport Team Joest BERNHARD Timo/DUMAS Romain/PREMAT Alexandre Audi R15 TDI 24:05:19.770 333 49 T 188,405 3:27.048 236,971
14 23 LMP1 M Strakka Racing WATTS Danny/LEVENTIS Nick/HARDMAN Peter Ginetta Zytek 24:05:22.402 325 57 T 183,873 3:33.276 230,051
15 4 LMP1 D Creation Autosportif CAMPBELLWALTER Jamie/ICKX Vanina/IANNETTA Romain Creation Judd 24:02:45.554 319 63 T 180,806 3:37.080 226,020

1 31 LMP2 M Team Essex ELGAARD Casper/COLLARD Emmanuel/POULSEN Kristian Porsche RS Spyder 24:01:52.362 357 202,468 3:40.880 222,131
2 33 LMP2 M Speedy Racing Sebah KANE Jonny/LEUENBERGER Benjamin/POMPIDOU Xavier Lola Judd 24:02:11.418 343 14 T 194,485 3:45.098 217,969
3 24 LMP2 D OAK Racing NICOLET Jacques/HEIN Richard/YVON Jean-Francois Pescarolo Mazda 24:02:02.362 325 32 T 184,298 3:55.092 208,703
4 32 LMP2 D Team Barazi Epsilon BARAZI Juan/MOSELEY Stuart/BENNETT Phil Zytek 07S 24:03:56.354 306 51 T 173,296 3:50.216 213,123

1 63 LMGT1 M Corvette Racing O CONNELL Johny/MAGNUSSEN Jan/GARCIA Antonio Corvette C6.R 24:03:55.490 342 193,685 3:54.076 209,609
2 73 LMGT1 D Alphand Aventures CLAIRAY Yan/JOUSSE Julien/MAASSEN Xavier Corvette C6.R 24:03:55.882 336 6 T 190,286 3:58.032 206,125
3 66 LMGT1 M Jetalliance Racing Gmbh LICHTNER-HOYER Lukas/MULLER Alex/GRUBER Thomas Aston Martin DBR9 24:01:48.490 294 48 T 166,746 3:55.200 208,607

1 82 LMGT2 M Risi Competizione MELO Jaime/KAFFER Pierre/SALO Mika Ferrari F430 GT 24:04:21.746 329 186,267 4:05.677 199,711
2 97 LMGT2 P BMS Scuderia Italia MALUCELLI Matteo/RUBERTI Paolo/BABINI Fabio Ferrari F430 GT 24:05:20.802 327 2 T 185,008 4:06.196 199,290
3 83 LMGT2 M Risi Competizione KROHN Tracy/JONSSON Nic/VAN DE POELE Eric Ferrari F430 GT 24:04:21.090 323 6 T 182,871 4:09.352 196,768
4 92 LMGT2 D JMW Motorsport BELL Robert/KIRKALDY Andrew/SUGDEN Tim Ferrari F430 GT 24:01:55.658 320 9 T 181,477 4:05.472 199,878
5 85 LMGT2 M Snoras Spyker Squadron CORONEL Tom/JANIS Jarek/BLEEKEMOLEN Jeroen Spyker C8 Laviolette 24:05:20.642 319 10 T 180,482 4:10.296 196,026
6 78 LMGT2 M AF Corse BRUNI Gianmaria/COMPANC Luis/RUSSO Matias Ferrari F430 GT 24:05:05.586 317 12 T 179,382 4:06.508 199,038
7 84 LMGT2 M Team Modena EHRET Pierre/MANSELL Leo/RUSINOV Roman Ferrari F430 GT 24:01:47.538 314 15 T 178,091 4:09.036 197,017
8 99 LMGT2 M JMB Racing BOUCHUT Christophe/LEBON Yvan/RODRIGUES Manuel Ferrari F430 GT 24:05:06.266 304 25 T 172,024 4:05.072 200,204
9 81 LMGT2 P Advanced Engineering DEMPSEY Patrick/FOSTER Joe/KITCH Don Jr Ferrari F430 GT 24:04:31.242 301 28 T 170,395 4:14.648 192,675
10 96 LMGT2 D Virgo Motorsport McINERNEY Michael/McINERNEY Sean/VERGERS Michael Ferrari F430 GT 24:01:53.178 280 49 T 158,797 4:09.104 196,964
11 75 LMGT2 D Endurance Asia Team O YOUNG Darryl/HESNAULT Philippe/KRALEV P Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 24:01:05.530 186 143 T 105,545 4:10.044 196,223

Official Retirments
5 LMP2 M Navi Team Goh ARA Seiji/KUNIMOTO Keisuke/MAASSEN Sascha Porsche RS Spyder 22:44:28.706 339 203.165 3:40.976 222,035
64 LMGT1 M Corvette Racing GAVIN Olivier/BERETTA Olivier/FASSLER Marcel Corvette C6.R 21:36:45.322 311 196.118 3:53.416 210,202
25 LMP2 M RML ERDOS Tommy/NEWTON Mike/DYSON Chris Lola Mazda 19:20:01.426 273 192.447 3:44.816 218,242
87 LMGT2 M Drayson Racing COCKER Jonny/DRAYSON Paul/FRANCHITTI Marino Aston Martin Vantage 21:52:26.874 272 169.474 4:07.984 197,853
76 LMGT2 M Imsa Performance Matmut PILET Patrick/NARAC Raymond/LONG Patrick Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 21:50:46.706 265 165.322 4:04.188 200,929
39 LMP2 D KSM NODA Hideki/DE POURTALES Jean/MARSH Matthew Lola Mazda 22:56:21.666 261 155.068 3:51.656 211,799
009 LMP1 M Aston Martin Racing HALL Stuart/KOX Peter/PRIMAT Harold Lola Aston Martin 18:32:28.066 252 185.237 3:31.640 231,830
10 LMP1 M Team Oreca Matmut AIM ORTELLI Stephane/SENNA Bruno/MONTEIRO Tiago Oreca AIM 15:09:25.394 219 196.922 3:35.708 227,457
17 LMP1 M Pescarolo Sport BOULLION Jean-Christophe/PAGENAUD Simon/TRELUYER BPeugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 13:01:07.394 210 219.844 3:27.500 236,455
35 LMP2 D OAK Racing LAHAYE Matthieu/AJLANI Karim/MOREAU Guillaume Pescarolo Mazda 16:52:07.042 208 168.054 3:46.704 216,425
30 LMP2 M Racing Box BIAGI Thomas/BOBBI Matteo/PICCINI Andrea Lola Judd 14:59:29.666 203 184.549 3:45.496 217,584
80 LMGT2 M Flying Lizard Motorsport NEIMAN Seth/LAW Darren/BERGMEISTER Jorg Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 14:19:40.874 194 184.535 4:04.840 200,394
89 LMGT2 H Hankook-Farnbacher SIMONSEN Allan/FARNBACHER Dominik/MONTANARI ChristiFerrari F430 GT 14:06:35.626 183 176.763 4:06.544 199,009
6 LMP1 M Team LNT MOORE Nigel/DEAN Richard/TOMLINSON Lawrence Ginetta Zytek 12:07:33.418 178 200.064 3:37.676 225,401
2 LMP1 M Audi Sport North America LUHR Lucas/ROCKENFELLER Mike/WERNER Marco Audi R15 TDI 6:26:37.806 104 219.965 3:29.136 234,605
41 LMP2 M G.A.C. Racing Team OJJEH Karim/GOSSELIN Claude-Yves/PETER Philipp Zytek 7:05:32.142 102 196.011 3:49.206 214,062
70 LMGT2 M Imsa Performance Matmut FELBERMAYER Horst Jr/FELBERMAYER Horst Sr/LECOURT Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 7:48:23.458 102 178.077 4:11.160 195,351
72 LMGT1 D Alphand Aventures ALPHAND Luc/GREGOIRE S/GOUESLARD Patrice Corvette C6.R 6:56:55.114 99 194.178 3:57.816 206,312
26 LMP2 D Bruichladdich Bruneau BRUNEAU Pierre/GREAVES Tim/ROSTAN Marc Radical AER 14:38:22.354 91 84.718 3:56.828 207,173
40 LMP2 D Quifel ASM Team AMARAL Miguel/PLA Olivier/SMITH Guy Ginetta Zytek 3:45:07.774 46 167.086 3:44.704 218,351
77 LMGT2 M Felbermayr Proton LIEB Marc/LIETZ Richard/HENZLER Wolf Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 1:48:02.174 24 181.659 4:06.520 199,028
68 LMGT1 Y JLOC APICELLA Marco/YOGO A/YAMAGISHI Yutaka Lamborghini 0:06:02.272 1 135.435 59:59.999 000,227

Fastest Laps

7 LMP1 M Team Peugeot Total MINASSIAN Nicolas/LAMY Pedro/KLIEN Christian Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP 259 3:24.352 240,097
31 LMP2 M Team Essex ELGAARD Casper/COLLARD Emmanuel/POULSEN Kristian Porsche RS Spyder 253 3:40.880 222,131
64 LMGT1 M Corvette Racing GAVIN Olivier/BERETTA Olivier/FASSLER Marcel Corvette C6.R 246 3:53.416 210,202
76 LMGT2 M Imsa Performance Matmut PILET Patrick/NARAC Raymond/LONG Patrick Porsche 997 GT3 RSR 71 4:04.188 200,929

The results are provisional until the end of the time limit for protest and appeals
Results are suspended till the end of scrutineering