As usual in the timetable of the Le Mans Series, the 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps are converted in the last event before the 24 hours of Le Mans. This year, also part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the proof of the Ardennes meant the first duel between the latest models of Peugeot and Audi, the 908 and R18 respectively.
And if something got the feeling during qualifying on Friday was that the R18 Audi were one step ahead of their Gallic rivals being superior to the Peugeot 908, when it comes to the truth have been the LMP1 Gauls who have emerged victorious in this battle.
Little or nothing has served him to Audi Alexander Wurz left far behind in the grid. When met two dozen laps, the Austrian was already leader with a higher rate that no one could follow. Marc Gene and Anthony Davidson had "only" to consolidate the work done by his partner to win the victory at Spa-Francorchamps, the consecutive fifth for Peugeot in this test.
Second on the podium, another Peugeot 908, on this occasion of Stephane Sarrazin, Franck Montagny and Nicolas Minassian, who could do little with the pace shown by their peers. He completed the first R18 Audi podium, that of the old rockers Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello "Dindo", which had various problems, including a slow puncture and a touch with an LMP2, which away them from the fight for the victory.
In LMP1.5, the LMP1 of gasoline, the best has been the Pescarolo-Judd of Pescarolo Team with Emmanuel Collard, Christophe Tinseau and Julien Jousse ahead of the B10/60 Coupe Lola - Toyota of Rebellion Racing (Neel Jani-Nicolas Prost).
In LMP2, victoria an Oreca 03-Nissan, but not in the "official" Signatech Nissan but which put in track Racing TDS, with Mathias Beche, Pierre Thiriet and Jody Firth at the wheel. At GTE, double of the new Ferrari 458 Italy GTC. Victory for AF Corse, Gianmaria Bruni and Giancarlo Fisichella, and second position for unit piloted by Allan Simonsen and Dominik Farnbacher.
