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24 Hours of Le Mans
The 77th Le Mans 24 Hours
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Le Mans 2009 was a truly wonderful event. Peugeot were determined not to make the mistakes of 2008, and their performance was almost faultless.
From the word go, the French cars led the way with Audi already losing ground after the first handful of laps. The fact that Audi went into self-destruction mode in the first half of the race only served to enhance the Peugeot superiority.
The race perhaps wasn't as close and exciting as we had last year, but it was entertaining, dramatic, and full of incident. Audi have had their Le Mans crown taken from their grasp - a result that is sure to launch the German marque into another attempt at the endurance classic in 2010.
This was the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for being with us throughout the event. Our next Live event will be the Formula 1 British Grand Prix from Silverstone next weekend.
From the word go, the French cars led the way with Audi already losing ground after the first handful of laps. The fact that Audi went into self-destruction mode in the first half of the race only served to enhance the Peugeot superiority.
The race perhaps wasn't as close and exciting as we had last year, but it was entertaining, dramatic, and full of incident. Audi have had their Le Mans crown taken from their grasp - a result that is sure to launch the German marque into another attempt at the endurance classic in 2010.
This was the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for being with us throughout the event. Our next Live event will be the Formula 1 British Grand Prix from Silverstone next weekend.
Audi are denied another Le Mans win by the sheer race pace of Peugeot, leaving Tom Kristensen's amazing total at eight wins - for now.
The dust begins to settle on a remarkable 24 hours.
Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction direct from the circuit and particularly the final updates to our exclusive driver snaps diaries.
Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction direct from the circuit and particularly the final updates to our exclusive driver snaps diaries.
The champagne sprays to round out an amazing 24 hour race.
Marc Gene, Alex Wurz and David Brabham are handed their Le Mans winner's trophies on the podium. The three drivers are delighted and wave to the packed grandstand.
The French national anthem triumphantly blasts out over the circuit in recognition of Peugeot's victory in the 24 hours.
Winners Marc Gene, Alex Wurz and David Brabham take to the podium.
Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny take the second-place step on the podium.
Dindo Capello and Allan McNish walk out onto the podium at La Sarthe to a huge cheer for their third place finish.
Risi Competizione win the GT2 class at Le Mans with their #82 Ferrari F340. Congratulations to Mika Salo, Pierre Kaffer and Jaime Melo for a superb drive against quality opposition.
Ferrari beat Porsche hands down in GT2.
Ferrari beat Porsche hands down in GT2.
The final GT1 win goes to the #63 Corvette of Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia.
The Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder wins LMP2, driven by Casper Elgaard, Kristian Poulsen and Emmanuel Collard.
The third works Peugeot #7 driven by Pedro Lamy, Nicolas Minassian and Christian Klien takes sixth place to complete a joyous day for Peugeot.
Fifth place in the 24 hours goes to Team Oreca-AIM with Soheil Ayari, Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre in the #11 machine - a stunning effort.
An amazing fourth place goes to the #007 Lola-Aston Martin of Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge and Stefan Mucke. The Aston was by far the fastest petrol car on an impressive debut for that project.
Third place goes to the #1 Audi, driven to its limits by Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, but ultimately not quick enough on the Le Mans debut of the R15.
24h00m They said that the Audis would win it again.
They said that the Peugeot works team only knew how to throw away the great race ...
Not a bit of it.
Peugeot win the 77th Le Mans 24 Hours on home soil!
Congratulations to Marc Gene, Alex Wurz and David Brabham who take victory in the #9 Peugeot 908.
Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny make it a marvellous Peugeot one-two in the #8 car.
They said that the Peugeot works team only knew how to throw away the great race ...
Not a bit of it.
Peugeot win the 77th Le Mans 24 Hours on home soil!
Congratulations to Marc Gene, Alex Wurz and David Brabham who take victory in the #9 Peugeot 908.
Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny make it a marvellous Peugeot one-two in the #8 car.
24h00m They are heading towards the final chicane. The crowd is going wild. Marc Gene is already waving his hand in the air in triumph ...
23h59m The three cars head down the Mulsanne on the last lap of the race.
23h58m The patriotic French crowd at La Sarthe are already winding themselves up for a huge party celebrating home success. There are Peugeot banners everywhere in the main grandstand.
23h57m The three Peugeot 908s cross the stripe to begin what will be the final lap of the race.
23h56m There are no close battles for position anywhere on the circuit as the race ticks through the final minutes.
23h48m Out on the track Marc Gene's face remains fully concentrated, as he guides the #9 round the circuit.
23h47m The Peugeot garage is crowded at the moment as all concerned wait in anticipation of a great result on home soil.
23h47m The #008 Lola-Aston Martin is back underway after being garaged earlier with heavy smoke from the rear.
Darren Turner is now running right behind the #007 Aston, which is set to finish a strong fourth.
Darren Turner is now running right behind the #007 Aston, which is set to finish a strong fourth.
23h45m Jaime Melo leads the GT2 class for Risi Competizione in the #82 Ferrari. He is still two laps ahead of the BMS Scuderia Italia #97.
23h45m The #63 Corvette crew have polished their C6.R and send it out for a final few laps - ever - at Le Mans.
23h43m Sebastien Bourdais took 5m20s to complete the last tour as the Peugeot trio set up their flying formation. There are no problems with the car.
23h42m The GT1 class-leading #63 Corvette has pitted and gone in the garage, presumably for a late clean ahead of the finish.
23h39m All three Peugeots are now nose-to-tail for the run to the flag.
23h38m Sebastien Bourdais didn't pit the car and it looks like they are creating a formation finish.
23h36m The #8 car is touring slowly.
23h35m One of the Peugeots is slowing ...
23h34m The GT1 class is also settled in favour of the #63 Corvette after late mechanical troubles for the #64 while they were in a close fight.
23h31m The #8 Peugeot is also into the pits for the final time. Sebastien Bourdais will stay on board for the final leg of the race. He rejoins in second as the French manufacturer look set for glory.
23h30m The race leader comes into the pits. Marc Gene has had a wonderful early-afternoon stint in the #9 Peugeot 908. He rejoins with a good lead over the #8 car.
23h29m The #1 Audi is in for a final stop. The team are cleaning out the radiators as a precaution before sending Tom Kristensen on his way.
23h27m The GT2 fight looks set to be claimed dominantly by Ferrari. Jaime Melo leads the class in the #82 Risi Competizione F340. He has a two lap lead over the #97 BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari, with another Risi Competizione entry - the #83 - in third place.
23h27m The LMP2 battle is almost certainly settled in the favour of the Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder after that recent crash for the similar Team Goh entry. The #33 Speedy Racing Sabah LMP2 car will take second place.
23h23m Aston Martin look set to miss out on the podium unless there is some late-race drama. Tomas Enge is fourth in the #007 car.
Team Oreca Matmut are fifth with Soheil Ayari at the wheel, ahead of Nicolas Minassian in sixth with the #7 Peugeot.
Team Oreca Matmut are fifth with Soheil Ayari at the wheel, ahead of Nicolas Minassian in sixth with the #7 Peugeot.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton
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