Peugeot set the pace at Sebring

Stephane Sarrazin's 1:43.302 lap, running in the sole 908 HDi, was more than 1.6 seconds faster than Marco Werner's 2007 qualifying lap record and more than half a second quicker than Allan McNish could manage in the leading Audi R10 HDI.

The warning signs had been there when Peugeot set the pace in January's winter test at the venue, but the team are hoping that one-lap speed will translate to race pace on Saturday.

"So far the car has been pretty good on the track surface," said Sarrazin's teammate Pedro Lamy, who also shares the car with Frenchman Nicolas Minassian.

"Because the track is very bumpy, this is a very good test for Le Mans. If you can survive 12 hours here, you can compete and finish at Le Mans."

The Penske Porsche RS Spyders were first and second quickest in the LMP2 category with Timo Bernhard leading the way ahead of co-class champion Romain Dumas. Andretti Green were third fastest.

Corvette Racing dominated GT1 with Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen well ahead of the Bell Motorsport's Aston Martin DBR9 in third.

Risi Competizione's Jaime Melo was quickest in GT2.