Silverstone: Peugeot qualifying report

LOOKING FORWARD TO A CLOSE FIGHT

Team Peugeot Total knew from the start that the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup would be extremely competitive, and the results of qualifying at Silverstone point to a thrilling race on Sunday.

Third fastest time for the factory Peugeot

Nicolas went out in the second half of qualifying in the No.1 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP for a run of five laps in a bid to beat the benchmark time of 1m43.475s posted earlier in the session by Allan McNish. The Peugeot driver's second flying lap harvested a 1m44.489s which remained his best effort of the session. "My car was quick through the fast corners, but I lacked a little grip and suffered from understeer through the tighter turns. I span at the start of my first flying lap. My tyres didn't suffer, but then I found myself in traffic. The balance of the car isn't at all bad, though, and I am confident for the race," commented Nicolas Minassian.

The gap gets closer

Bruno Famin (Technical Director): "Our rival has clearly progressed in performance terms, but the session didn't go perfectly for us, since Nicolas Minassian had trouble with traffic and debris on the track. The same went for Nicolas CONTACTS Lapierre in the Oreca Peugeot which also went out in the second half of the session."

Olivier Quesnel (Director, Peugeot Sport): "We are looking forward to a good fight tomorrow, even though we never like to start from the second row. That always entails a bigger risk, but it will be a long and no doubt very close race."

The factory Peugeot 908 HDi FAP will start Sunday's 1000km of Silverstone from third on the grid with Great Britain's Anthony Davidson behind the wheel, ahead of the Oreca-tended Peugeot. As was the case for qualifying, the conditions should stay dry for the opening round of the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. The race starts on Sunday at 11:55am local time.

-source: peugeot