A sad end to a long day for Minassian and team - June 13th 2010

Minassian pits at Le Mans 2010

At 7h02 flames start to shoot out of the rear right hand side of the leading car, the No. 2 Peugeot 908 being driven, at that moment, by Frank Montagny. The race was over for Minassian, Montagny and Sarrazin after 16 hours of running, the majority of which were at the head of the field. With the retirement of car No3, also in the lead at the moment it was forced to pull out, car No 1 remains the sole surviving Team Peugeot Total entry.

The night is just a vague memory when Franck Montagny (No 2) and Marc Gené (No 1) take over from Stéphane Sarrazin and Alexander Wurz. Franck Montagny comes into the pits at 7h00 to take on fuel. At 7h02 he stops at the side of the track, at Hunaudières, flames coming out of the rear right of the car. Leader sinces 22h33, car No 2 retires with engine problems.

“Its very hard," says a disappointed Minassian. "I am very sad for the whole team. I have never seen anything like it. But we still have one car left and we have to keep fighting all the way to the end After the race we must analysis what has happened, take the positive, work harder still and come back stronger to win again.”

The end of another Le Mans

Third, car No 1 nevertheless maintains the pressure on the two leading Audis. At 7h47, Anthony Davidson takes over the wheel and to underline his determination, at 8h12, posts the fastest lap of the race of 3’19’’527. Shortly after he pulls back into the same lap as the second placed Audi before refuelling at 8h27. At 8h30 the safety car comes out for the fourth time since the start and stays on track until 8h38.

Franck Montagny (Peugeot No 2): “It is something that has never happened before. We have never had such a problem with the 908. That’s life. I am not angry, just very disappointed.”

Olivier Quesnel (Peugeot Sport Director): “It is a hard race and this one is apparently not for us. We still however have one car in the race that is going hard and it isn’t finished yet. And while it isn’t finished there is still hope. They are problems we have never had before.”