Peugeot drivers happy with first stint

Pedro Lamy led for the first 90 minutes before handing over his car to pole-sitter Stephane Sarrazin, while teammate Franck Montagny trailed him throughout their stint.

Afterwards Lamy admitted to autosport.com that while the pair had been pushing, they had not been fighting for position.

"I was pushing hard," said the Portuguese. "We were not racing each other but we were pushing each other for speed. I am happy with where we are."

"My car was a bit understeery. The track is not very grippy at the moment."

Montagny, who shadowed the No. 8 car closely throughout his stint, felt he may have been able to go faster had he passed Lamy, but added that there was little point in taking the risk.

"I'm happy, the car is fine and its braking wheel," said Montagny. "We could have gone slightly faster, maybe two seconds, but it is not worth it. Better to save the tyres, the brakes, the engine. Just bring it home safely.

"If we run this way all the time it will be good."

"I don't where Audi is, but for sure they are with us. They are the reference, they are the champions, we are the challenger."

Nicolas Minassian ran third in the No. 7 908, but could not quite match the pace of his teammates in the opening stint.

"It was a bit difficult," he said. "The car was a bit oversteery, but there is not much grip yet. But the car is running well. It is good.

"I think we set the car up a bit like this, but I think by this evening it will be fine."

Minassian added that while he was pleased with the early pace of the French cars, he was not ruling out the challenge Audi represented.

"I think we have got a better pace than the Audis but they seem to be going longer on the fuel so at one point or another maybe there is a pace car they can take advantage of," he said.

"There is not a big difference in the long run, but I am very happy so far."