Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Davidson To Pilot A Peugeot For Le Mans

Anthony Davidson bags a seat in the lead 908 to join the Le Mans 'Brit pack'

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Anthony Davidson has joined the swelling ranks of British drivers set to compete in this year's Le Mans 24 hours, after Peugeot announced that he is to join Alexander Wurz and Marc Gene in piloting the lead Peugeot 908 HDi.

The 78th running of France's most famous motor race is shaping up to be a vintage year for those fond of waving the red, white and blue (the Union Flag, that is, not the Tricolore...).

Davidson joins a British contingent that includes the return of Allan McNish in an Audi, a pair of Aston Martin LMP1s, a Jaguar XKR in GT2, a trio of Mansells in a Ginetta Zytek, WTCC ace Andy Priaulx, and Le Mans vet Oliver Gavin (who we left out of the last Le Mans story we wrote, much to our shame) in a GT2 Corvette. There are plenty of other Brit drivers out there to cheer, too - they're almost too numerous to mention!

The factory Peugeot 908 HDi is in the fourth and final year of its planned Le Mans career, but the team won't be taking it easy. Last year Peugeot notched up a one-two victory, proving that it can take on and beat the previously unstoppable diesel Audis.

Former Super Aguri F1 driver Davidson is no Le Mans virgin either; he competed in one of the works LMP1 Astons in 2009.

 

[White-Noise]

Great news!

[Belfast Boy]

thats a nice Pug

[Nick M]

Belfast Boy said:

thats a nice Pug

That's an oxymoron

[[AJ]]

Great to see such a strong British representation. Good luck fellas.

[soad]

[AJ] said:

Great to see such a strong British representation. Good luck fellas.

Good news, look forward to the Le Mans race. Best of luck to them.

[eps]

Hurrah!! Hope they go well Will be cheering them on.

[Beirut Taxi]

Belfast Boy said:

thats a nice pug Tdi Repmobile...

Just kidding

Edited by Beirut Taxi on Tuesday 23 February 11:41

[woof]

i wonder what kind of wage packet he gets for that ?

£15-20k ?

[Rude-boy]

woof said:

i wonder what kind of wage packet he gets for that ?

£15-20k ?

Should be enough to keep the wolf from the door. I expect that there are a few performance clauses in there to. Don't forget that it will also have to cover his testing as well so it isn't for a week's work IYSWIM.

Really great to see him getting into a high profile car that stands a very good chance of winning the race. Even more keyed up about it all now!

Ant is a seriously top bloke. In '07 his son befriended a couple of young lads from the group we were socialising with on the campsite. Son of Ant dragged them into the F1 drivers camping enclave and he and his dad ensured anyone of note in there gave them an autograph! Great year that with both the old Carlin boys in the same team again!

[elster]

Rude-boy said:

Ant is a seriously top bloke. In '07 his son befriended a couple of young lads from the group we were socialising with on the campsite. Son of Ant dragged them into the F1 drivers camping enclave and he and his dad ensured anyone of note in there gave them an autograph! Great year that with both the old Carlin boys in the same team again!

I think somone should tell him he has a son. He may want to know about this one.

Good to see him getting back in the seat, he is a bit wasted in the commentary box. Although he is extrememly good at it.

[Renn Sport]

This is great news, however I did wish he had got a better shot at F1.

He's skilled.

[mk1fan]

This years race is just getting better and better. Still can't go though

[Gillet]

FINALLY!!! Ant is a legend, i can't believe no-one in F1 gave him a better shot, the man is obviously skilled, but good to see a top running team giving him a chance.

There's a great DVD i keep meaning to watch, it follows his 1st full year in F1 as a comparison to Hamilton's(they both started in 2007), and it shows the difference between starting in a top team, and starting in the worst team on the grid.

GO ON ANT!!!!

[rhinochopig]

So why do Peugeot still have a motor sport programme? They rally, they compete in Le Mans, and yet the cars they sell have zero links to their motor sport programme and have zero appeal to those interested in motor sport. Race on Sunday sell on Monday has never been farther from the truth in this case.

[Red Firecracker]

rhinochopig said:

So why do Peugeot still have a motor sport programme? They rally, they compete in Le Mans, and yet the cars they sell have zero links to their motor sport programme and have zero appeal to those interested in motor sport. Race on Sunday sell on Monday has never been farther from the truth in this case.

Because they can?

There is no doubt that there is technology drip from the race team downwards, it's a good environment for engineers, which is something that Honda recognised a long time ago. Few years in the race team then back to the road division. It's also very good advertising, especially in this instance, a major assault on the major French race. They just weren't too chuffed on the car that won last year, I believe. Diesels are massive in France and with a highly patriotic customer base, that has to add value.

Isn't the quote, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday"?

[Or888t]

Almost off topic, but not a very good angle for the 908 there, doent really look like the original stunner;

Although it doesnt look too bad.

Edited by Or888t on Tuesday 23 February 15:36

Edited by Or888t on Tuesday 23 February 15:37

[stephen300o]

Nice one Ant, shame about the F1 seat but a nice consolation.

[GTP rpm]

Rude-boy said:

woof said:

i wonder what kind of wage packet he gets for that ?

£15-20k ?

Should be enough to keep the wolf from the door. I expect that there are a few performance clauses in there to. Don't forget that it will also have to cover his testing as well so it isn't for a week's work IYSWIM.

Really great to see him getting into a high profile car that stands a very good chance of winning the race. Even more keyed up about it all now!

Ant is a seriously top bloke. In '07 his son befriended a couple of young lads from the group we were socialising with on the campsite. Son of Ant dragged them into the F1 drivers camping enclave and he and his dad ensured anyone of note in there gave them an autograph! Great year that with both the old Carlin boys in the same team again!

I appreciate your enthusiasm for Ant, but he hasn't got a Son

Regarding the Pug drive, it's excellent news! If you can't be in F1, then this is as good as it can get IMO.

Alex and Marc are two great drivers too. Can't wait

[lozriva]

rhinochopig said:

So why do Peugeot still have a motor sport programme? They rally, they compete in Le Mans, and yet the cars they sell have zero links to their motor sport programme and have zero appeal to those interested in motor sport. Race on Sunday sell on Monday has never been farther from the truth in this case.

Peugeot have made some very good engines derived from the mechanics and teams that were based in motorsport, such as the Mi16 engine, and used in in some very sporty hatches (205 GTI and similar)
I read someone saying about LeMans being french and also how large diesel is in France these days. I owuld say that was pretty much bang on. LeMans is a fantastic show ground for Peugeot to be in. motorsport isn't all about electronic tech and development, i would think the carry over set up for components like suspension and so on...

Glad Ant got a drive, thinking this could be a good field for him to be in, was pretty slim chance of getting back in to F1 one i reckon, the sport moves so fast that a year or two away and it is almost too late. He is a good driver, and i hope he also manages to get back to the 5live box as really enjoy his insight on the long free-practices online and red button...

Can't wait for F1 season as well as LeMans

[Rude-boy]

elster said:

Rude-boy said:

Ant is a seriously top bloke. In '07 his son befriended a couple of young lads from the group we were socialising with on the campsite. Son of Ant dragged them into the F1 drivers camping enclave and he and his dad ensured anyone of note in there gave them an autograph! Great year that with both the old Carlin boys in the same team again!

I think someone should tell him he has a son. He may want to know about this one.

Woooooooooooooops.

That then explodes that one! Will have to find out who the hell the little lad belonged to then! All as above but can't have been his son, obviously