Peugeot 908

Racing car
Car_name = Peugeot 908 HDi FAP


Category = Le Mans Prototype LMP1
Constructor = Peugeot
Designer =
Team = flagicon|FRA Team Peugeot Total
Drivers = flagicon|ESP Marc Gené
flagicon|FRA Nicolas Minassian
flagicon|FRA Stéphane Sarrazin
flagicon|POR Pedro Lamy
Technical ref =
Chassis = Carbon fibre monocoque
Front suspension =
Rear suspension =
Wheelbase =
Track =
Engine name =
Capacity = 5.5 litre
Configuration = V12 HDI FAP
Turbo/NA = twin-turbo,
Engine position = mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Gearbox name =
Gears = 6-speed
Type = sequential manual
Differential =
Weight =
Fuel = Shell V-Power Diesel
Tyres = Michelin
Debut = 2007 1000 km of Monza
Races = 15
Wins = 10
Teams_champ = 1 (Le Mans Series 2007)
Cons_champ = 1 (Le Mans Series 2007)
Drivers_champ = 1 (Le Mans Series 2007)
Poles =
Fastest_laps = |The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP is a sports prototype racing car built by the French automobile manufacturer Peugeot to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, starting in 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/06/peugeot_will_go.html|title=Peugeot Will Go to LeMans 2007 with a Diesel|date=15 June 2006|publisher=Green Car Congress] This effort, in development since 2005, was publicly unveiled on 15 June 2006. It competes with the Audi R10 TDI, being the second diesel engined sportscar from a major manufacturer. This was Peugeot's first Le Mans effort since the end of the Peugeot 905 project in 1993.

The 908 name is also shared with a Peugeot concept saloon/sedan, named the 908RC, which shares the diesel V12 engine from the 908 sportscar. The Peugeot 908 is not to be confused with another sportscar of the same number that successfully raced from 1968 to 1981, the Porsche 908.

At the 2008 1000 km of Silverstone, Peugeot Sport unveiled the 908 HY, a hybrid electric variant of the diesel 908. Peugeot plans to campaign the car in the 2009 Le Mans Series season, although it will not be capable of scoring championship points.citeweb | url = http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/people/273697/peugeot-reveal-hybrid-racer-for-2009.html | title = Peugeot Sport Hybrid | publisher = Racecar Engineering | date = 2008-09-13 | accessdate = 2008-09-13]

Design

Chassis

As part of new rules announced by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) on 16 June 2006 which encouraged closed cockpit Le Mans Prototypes, Peugeot unveiled the 908 with a closed cockpit, the first Le Mans Prototype (LMP) since the Bentley Speed 8 to race with such a design. Peugeot's choice of a closed cockpit is possibly intended to allowed the 908 to run a larger air restrictor due to rules mandating the use of air conditioning on closed cockpit designs.cite web|url=http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsjune06.html|title=June 2006 News|date=16 June 2006|author=Michael J. Fuller|work=Mulsanne's Corner] Peugeot also felt that weight, centre of gravity, and operational drawbacks were able to be overcome by better chassis rigidity and aerodynamics with using a closed cockpit design. The cockpit uses a unique 2 part door system with the upper part of the door (the window) swinging forward and out with a hinged plate (part of the sidepod) forming the lower part of the door that can be either swung out or removed completely, this was reportedly done to allow the car to conform to current regulations regarding door size. The body is a carbon fibre monocoque instead of a conventional open structure to offer better rigidity and lower weight. [cite press release | url = http://mediatheque.peugeot-pressepro.com/media/pdf/dossier/210/746/908_EN.pdf | title = The Peugeot 908 V12 HDi DPFS | date = 28 September 2006 | publisher = Peugeot |format=PDF] Front and rear suspension are linked, steering is electrically powered, magnesium wheels come from BBS. The car measures convert|4.65|m|in|abbr=on × convert|2|m|in|abbr=on and weighs Auto kg|925|0 minimum. Peugeot announced they would build the 908 chassis themselves, instead of relying on another manufacturer to build it for them.

Drivetrain

The Peugeot 908 is powered by a convert|5.5|L|cuin|abbr=on HDi diesel engine, the maximum size allowed by Le Mans Prototype rules. Its configuration is a 100° V12, the angle having been chosen to lower the center of gravity. Its output has been revealed to be over convert|700|hp|kW and convert|1200|Nm|abbr=on of torque, nearly 10% more than Audi's similar R10 TDI. [ cite press release | url = http://mediatheque.peugeot-pressepro.com/dossiers/EN_IP_MoteurLeMans.pdf | title = A V12 HDi DPFS for the Peugeot 908 | publisher = Peugeot | date = 2006-06-15|format=PDF]

Engine management systems for the 908 were developed by Bosch, who also developed the fuel injection system. Oil systems are developed by technical partner Total. The electro-pneumatic controlled gearbox, designed and built by Ricardo [cite web|url=http://www.ricardo.com/general/latestnews.aspx?id=22|title=Ricardo transmissions lead the field in Le Mans practice and world rally car|date=2 June 2007|publisher=Ricardo plc] , is longitudinal with a maximum of 6 gear ratios, and the differential is self-locking.

908 Hybrid Electric

In 2009, Peugeot will compete with the 908 HY, an hybrid electric version of the 908 diesel [http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080915.004/peugeot-presents-908-hdi-fap-hybrid] . The 908 HY adds a convert|80|hp|kW|abbr=on electric motor, replacing the car's standard starter motor. The motor is powered by 600 lithium ion batteries which are located in the cockpit and on the left bottom of the car. The batteries are charged through regenerative braking, requiring approximately 20 to 30 seconds to recharge.

The electric motor can be used to provide extra power to the car for approximately 20 seconds, either automatically or through driver activation. The motor can also run on its own while the car is entering a pit lane, shutting the diesel motor off to conserve fuel. The electrical systems add approximately convert|45|kg|lb|abbr=on to the weight of the standard 908, although Peugeot believes they can lower this weight further.

Planning

On 28 September Peugeot unveiled a model of the 908 at the Mondial de l'Automobile Paris Auto Show. The V12 HDi will be started for the first time in a bench test on 30 September, while the actual first chassis will start test driving in December with Eric Hélary in preparation for a 2-car effort at Le Mans along with participation in the full 2007 Le Mans Series season. The team will be sponsored by XBox 360, Total, and tyre supplier Michelin.

On January 10 at the 908's first public test at the Paul Ricard HTTT, Peugeot confirmed that the drivers of the 908 will be Stéphane Sarrazin, Nicolas Minassian, Marc Gené, and Pedro Lamy for the Le Mans Series, while Jacques Villeneuve and Sébastien Bourdais would be added for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Racing history

The Peugeot 908 made its race debut at the opening round of the 2007 Le Mans Series season, the 1000km of Monza. The twin 908s were very quick in qualifying, managing to take the top two spots by over a second from the nearest competitor. During the race the Peugeot lead nearly the entire race, although the #8 car of Lamy and Sarrazin suffered numerous difficulties with its doors, leaving them to finish third. However the #7 908 of Gené and Minassian held on to take victory in the 908's debut. At the next round at Valencia, it would be the #8 Peugeot's turn to take the win, while the #7 car suffered clutch problems and did not finish.

On the 3rd of June 2007, Peugeot managed to best the Audi R10 TDI diesel, setting a Le Mans test day lap time of 3:26.707. This was followed by Peugeot earning pole position on Le Mans qualifying with a 3:26.344 set by Stéphane Sarrazin, again beating Audi - although it is believed Audi did not go as fast as they could, unlike Peugeot (in the race, where the cars were faced directly for the first time, the Audi R10's were obviously faster than the Peugeots on the straights and much more stable and less forcing on the corners). In the race itself the #8 Peugeot managed to finish second to the Audi R10 after covering 359 laps. The #7 Peugeot sister car had to withdraw from the race in the final hour due to engine failure. [http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/actu/2007-06-17_AW_2403_gb.html] When the stricken car reached the pits for the second time, Peugeot mechanics made no effort to resolve its problems and simply withdrew it from the race.

Following the break for Le Mans, the Peugeots returned to the Le Mans Series. Peugeot #8 would take two straight victories at Nürburgring and Spa before the #7 908 took the last two wins of the season at Silverstone and Interlagos. Winning three races and finishing in five out of six, 908 #8 won the LMP1 teams' championship, while the #7 car would suffer some reliability issues and would settle for third in the championship, behind Pescarolo Sport.

For 2008, Peugeot expanded their 908 program to include the 12 Hours of Sebring. Although the sole 908 led early, mechanical problems dropped the car from contention. However, the 908 completed the event, serving in preparation for a return to Le Mans. Back in the Le Mans Series, the two team 908s now had to face newcomer Audi, as they too entered two R10 diesels. The 908 however opened the season with a victory in Catalunya, marking the first time a 908 has beaten an R10. For Le Mans three 908s were entered and the team started on pole position as they had in 2007. However during a rain-soaked night at the race the Audi R10 was able to take the lead and go on to win their seventh Le Mans. Peugeots finished second, third, and fifth.

Peugeot finished their season at the 1000 km of Silverstone, but their streak of LMS race wins ended after two accidents involving both cars. The accidents not only allowed the Audis to win the race, but also allowed Audi to secure the Drivers, Teams, and Constructors Championships, titles Peugeot had led all season.

After their loss in the LMS, Peugeot announced their intent to bring two of their 908s to North America to compete in the American Le Mans Series Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Drivers Christian Klien and Alexander Wurz would have rejoined the squad to face Audi's North American R10s. [ [http://www.peugeot-sport.com/EN/rubrique/news-181-endurance.php Team Peugeot Total to contest Petit Le Mans] ] However, because of accident damage to the 908s at Silverstone, Peugeot later opted to bring only one car. The sole 908 qualified in pole position and led several times over the race, but finished only 4.5 seconds behind the North American Audi team.

Peugeot 908 RC

The 908 RC is a luxury four-door limousine concept car equipped with the 5.5L V12 HDi diesel from the 908 sportscar installed centrally and transversally. [cite press release | url = http://mediatheque.peugeot-pressepro.com/media/pdf/dossier/210/746/908RC_EN.pdf | title = The 908 RC – The ultimate by Peugeot | date = August 2006|format=PDF] The car is seen as a preview of the design for the upcoming Peugeot 608 luxury sedan.

References

External links

* [http://www.peugeot-sport.com/EN/endurance/peugeot908.htm Peugeot Sport] - Le Mans