| This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is expected to be a | | | | I had crossed the finish line." |
| contest between the diesel-powered race cars fielded | | | | While not even using Jet chips performance parts, the |
| by Audi and Peugeot. As expected, the popular | | | | Audi R10 took the win, with an eight-lap lead over the |
| endurance race was decided between the two | | | | closest Peugeot. The win was the fifth for Pirro. He |
| European car manufacturers. After 24 hours and 369 | | | | won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000, 2001, 2002, |
| laps, Team Audi Sport North America took the win | | | | 2006, and this year. "Le Mans was simply incredible this |
| from Team Peugeot Total. | | | | year," he said. |
| Driving the Audi R10 TDI # 1 for the team are Marco | | | | While the Audi R10 #1 took the win at the 24 Hours of |
| Werner, Emanuele Pirro, and Frank Biela. These three | | | | Le Mans, two other Audi cars failed to finish after |
| drivers took turns behind the steering wheel of the | | | | suffering accidents and malfunctions. "The two other |
| diesel powered car to beat the Peugeot contingent of | | | | Audis had really bad luck," says Pirro. "They could not |
| Stephane Sarrazin, Pedro Lamy, and Sebastian | | | | finish the race. After that we had enormous pressure. |
| Bourdais. | | | | Behind us were the Peugeots and we had to fight |
| The win posted by Audi represents the fourth straight | | | | hard. The last nine hours have been especially difficult." |
| victory that they have achieved in the grueling | | | | Frank Biela also posted his fifth career win at the 24 |
| endurance race. This is also the second year that | | | | Hours of Le Mans. While he won the race for the fifth |
| Audi's diesel powered race car dominated the | | | | time, he was quick to pint out that the exhilaration of |
| endurance race. So complete was the dominance of | | | | winning it does not sink in immediately. "You realize a |
| Audi's diesel powered race car that Peugeot decided | | | | Le Mans victory only a couple of days later because |
| to field a diesel powered race car of their won. In the | | | | you have so much stress and pressure during this |
| end though, it was Audi who proved to be the better | | | | race," says Biela. "Of course you wish that everything |
| of the two teams. | | | | goes well but you can't plan it. Something can happen |
| Werner took the chequered flag to mark his third | | | | anytime." |
| straight victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. "Of | | | | He expressed his sentiments after winning the fifth |
| course it is a great feeling to win but tomorrow for | | | | career race by saying: "To have the luck of being on |
| sure I will feel even better because there was gigantic | | | | the top of the podium for the fifth time is simply great. |
| pressure on our shoulders until the very end of the | | | | The key to success has been to attack at the right |
| race," said Werner after the race. "In the closing | | | | time and to be on the safe side at the right time. The |
| stages this Le Mans 24 Hours was more like a boat | | | | pit crew has done a great job. We always had the |
| race. It was incredible that the race went green again | | | | right tires on our car. This victory was achieved by the |
| under these conditions. I was more than relieved when | | | | entire team. |