Peugeot drivers Franck Montagny (left) and Pedro Lamy (center) waited out rain at the 2009 Petit Le Mans. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Peugeot

No. 07: Marc Gene, Alexander Wurz, Anthony Davidson
No. 08: Pedro Lamy, Stephane Sarrazin, Franck Montagny

The “French lions” return to the U.S. for the first time since winning the American Le Mans Series season opener at March’s 12 Hours of Sebring. Starting with its win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, Peugeot completed the feat of winning all three worldwide major endurance races in a row, adding wins at Petit Le Mans last year and then Sebring earlier this year.

But Le Mans proved problematic for the “Pugs,” with a number of engine failures grinding all three factory cars to a halt in this year’s 24-hour race. The pair that won the rain-shortened Petit last year (Stephane Sarrazin, Franck Montagny) is back to defend its title co-driving with Pedro Lamy. Peugeot is still one of the two favorites to take the overall win with either of its closed-top, 908 HDi FAP turbo-diesel prototypes.