Peugeot halted by hydraulic problem

The car had already lost three laps while repairs were attempting during its second scheduled pit stop, but the problem returned within an hour, forcing the Peugeot team to bring the car behind the wall, where it has remained for the past half an hour.

"It's very tough," Peugeot Sport director Michel Barge told Motors TV.

"We have to change the pump with the hydraulic system because we had some problems with hydraulics. We changed a valve earlier but it didn't solve the problem."

Stephane Sarrazin, Pedro Lamy and Nicolas Minassian are currently classified 17 laps behind the leading Audis, with no sign yet of the car returning to the track.

But Barge expects the 908 to rejoin so the team can continue their testing for Le Mans.

"The car is very quick, but this is why we are here, to solve problems," he said. "We are working very hard."

Minassian took the lead from the No.1 Audi at the start of the race, and held a comfortable 35-second advantage until the hydraulic issue struck in the third hour.