"Battle of the Diesels" Looms

SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY -- The world's top two Le Mans prototype teams will race head-to-head for only the second time ever in Sebring.

Peugeot will compete for the first time in North America by entering the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. America's premier sports car endurance race takes the green flag at 10 a.m. on March 15.

Peugeot is challenging the domination of Audi, which has won eight consecutive Sebring 12-hour classics. Both teams race diesel-powered prototypes. Audi won in their only previous meeting at Le Mans in 2007.

"This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Sebring races ever," said Sebring President and General Manager Tres Stephenson. "Porsche and Acura should also be in the hunt, making this a four-way battle for the overall victory."

Pedro Lamy, Nic Minassian and Stephane Sarrazin will pilot the diesel-powered Peugeot 908 in the 12 Hours. It was Sarrazin who posted the fastest time in the three-day test here at Sebring last month, a blistering 1:42.801 (129.571 mph) that was more than two full seconds better than last year's record-setting qualifying mark turned in by Audi's Marco Werner.

"Peugeot's confirmed entry into the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring sets the stage for one of the most anticipated editions of America's greatest endurance race," said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series. "It's another validation of the importance that manufacturers and teams place on competing at Sebring and in the American Le Mans Series.

"It's no secret that Peugeot's ultimate goal for 2008 is to once again claim victory at Le Mans, and there is no better proving ground than Sebring."

Peugeot is seeking to become the second manufacturer to win overall at Sebring using diesel power. Audi accomplished the feat first in 2006 with its R10 TDI and repeated in 2007.

The 2008 American Le Mans Series season opens with the 56th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring, which will be broadcast live by SPEED, MotorsTV, Fox Latin America, 7TV in Russia and Greenlight Television. American Le Mans Radio and IMSA's live timing and scoring will be available at americanlemans.com.

Tickets to the race can be ordered online at sebringraceway.com. For more information, call 800-626-7223.

"It's no secret that Peugeot's ultimate goal for 2008 is to once again claim victory at Le Mans, and there is no better proving ground than Sebring."
-- Scott Atherton, American Le Mans Series