Peugeot 908
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The 908 is a race car built by the French automobile manufacturer Peugeot to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race starting in 2007. This effort, in development since 2005, was publically unveiled in June 15th 2006. It will compete with the Audi R10, being the second diesel sportscar from a major manufacturer. This will also be Peugeot's first Le Mans effort since the end of the Peugeot 905 project in 1993.
The Peugeot 908 is not to be confused with another sportscar of the same name that raced in the 1960s, the Porsche 908.
Chassis
Peugeot announced they would build the 908 chassis themselves instead of relying on another manufacturer to build it for them. Strong rumor is that the 908 chassis will have a closed top because a larger air restrictor is allowed for cars using air conditioning to make up for the horsepower lost in running air conditioning[Mulsanne's Corner News], 6.16.06, Michael J. Fuller although this will not be confirmed until September. LMP1s will also be forced to all become closed cockpit designs by 2010 due to rule changes made by the ACO, meaning that Peugeot may be ahead of the competition in their awareness of this rule change and thus designed their car accordingly.The decision by Peugeot to build the chassis themselves has left Henri Pescarolo, who was looking for involvement in the Peugeot project, feeling that his future at Le Mans will be in doubt. The Pescarolo team has been strapped for cash since Peugeot initially dropped their engine program in 2003, and Pescarolo was looking to possibly run the factory squad, similar to the way Reinhold Joest runs the factory Audi effort.
Engine
The Peugeot 908 will be powered by an HDi diesel engine of 5.5-liter, the maximum permitted by the regulations. Its configuration is a 100° V12, the angle having been chosen to lower the center of gravity. Its output has been revealed to be over 700BHP and 885 lb ft of torque. This is nearly 10% more than Audi's victorious R10.[Channel 4 - 4car news, 19/06/06]The use of the particulate filter is one of over a million particulate filters that have been used on Peugeot vehicles since the introduction of the 2.7 L HDi V6 in the Peugeot 607. 60 % of the cars sold by Peugeot in Europe are diesels, and even 70% in France.
Technical partners in the development of the 908 include Bosch, who will cover engine management systems and fuel injection components, Total, who will provides fuel and oil, and Michelin, the official tire supplier.
Planning
In September, Peugeot will present a scale model at the Mondial de l'Automobile Paris Auto Show, the V12 HDi will be started on a bench the 30th september, and the car will start test driving in December with Eric Helary.Peugeot said that it is possible that a single 908 could run at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring in preparation for a 2-car effort at Le Mans. Peugeot will compete in the 2008 European Le Mans Endurance Series at Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, Silverstone, the Nürburgring and Istanbul to further test their car in preparation for further fights with Audi at Le Mans.
References
- [Peugeot Will Go to LeMans 2007 with a Diesel], Green Car Congress, 15 June 2006
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