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Endurance rhymes with excellence. 55 cars plus 8 reserves out of the 88 entries sent in to the ACO have been selected, among them the cream of endurance drivers and some of the best in Formula 1.

In 2007, the duel between the major manufacturers Audi and Peugeot fulfilled all its promise. Three Audis were at the start and only one at the finish but in that all important 1st place (2nd consecutive win for a diesel in the Le Mans 24 Hours and 7th for Audi).

Peugeot was back for the fi rst time since 1993, and was in the hunt for victory with one of its 908 HDi FAPS fi nishing in second place, some 10 laps behind the winner.

The 2008 race will obviously be a revenge match and both teams have clearly announced their colours: victory!

Inter-company battles, conquering market shares, sporting excellence and a dynamic image are among the reasons that drive the major manufacturers to compete in the greatest endurance race in the world. This year, they are making an all-out effort with 3 cars each entrusted to handpicked drivers.

A NEWFOUND PARADISE FOR F1 DRIVERS

Although the fi nal driver line-ups will not be announced until after practice on 12th June, the profi le of those in the major teams is oriented towards performance, experience and F1. Peugeot has again put its trust in the squads that won the 2007 Le Mans Series backed up by former or current F1 aces.

This highlights the fact that the performance level of cars competing in the Sarthe is now so high that the Le Mans 24 Hours have become the motor racing equivalent of a second life of an F1 driver.

In 2008, Christian Klien, Franck Montagny, Jacques Villeneuve, Alexander Wurz and Ricardo Zonta will be at the wheel of the Peugeots, whose drivers have accumulated 393 F1 grand prix and 32 Le Mans 24 Hours. They’ve all said: "winning Le Mans is our dream!"

Audi has renewed its faith in drivers who have racked up Le Mans victories like Tom Kristensen (Mr. Le Mans with 7 wins, the record) and young chargers such as Alexandre Prémat and Mike Rockenfeller.

One of the main outsiders in a petrol-fuelled LM P1 is the Judd-powered Courage-Oreca with popular Frenchman Olivier Panis on board. Olivier says what he thinks and expresses the feelings of his fellow racers: "no driver can remain indifferent to the magnetic pull exercised by the Le Mans 24 Hours."

Well said!

www.lemans.org

- ACO.-

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