Four Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs paced the first qualifying session, led by provisional polesitter Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 3 car. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Peugeot’s factory squad has the top three positions on the grid after the first two-hour qualifying session. Sebastien Bourdais set the quickest time at 3:19.711 in the No. 3 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, ahead of the No. 1 and No. 2 Peugeots. This could be the overall pole as wet weather is expected tomorrow afternoon and evening for the two later sessions.

The Oreca-prepared No. 4 Peugeot of Nicolas Lapierre set the quickest time early at 3:21.192, but stopped on track with apparent fuel pickup problems, team owner Hughes de Chaunac told Radio Le Mans’ radio coverage. That time was good for fourth place ahead of the three Audi R15 TDIs. The fastest Peugeot was nearly four seconds quicker than the fastest Audi.

The European Strakka Racing HPD ARX 01-c leads ALMS regulars Highcroft Racing in their similar car. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

Both HPD ARX 01-cs paced LMP2, the European Strakka Racing car ahead of ALMS regulars Highcroft Racing in their Le Mans debut.

GT2 saw ALMS regulars snare the top three spots. Risi Ferrari with Gianmaria Bruni set the provisional pole time at a lap less than 4 minutes, just ahead of the two Corvette Racing C6 ZR1s. Patrick Long’s team is the fastest Porsche entry at fourth on the provisional grid.

Other ALMS teams of note: Aston Martin Racing’s No.007 Lola Aston Martin was fastest gasoline powered car in LMP1 in eighth, Drayson Racing’s Lola Judd coupe finished 14th in LMP1/overall, Risi’s second Ferrari was ninth in GT2 and the Flying Lizard Porsche 15th in GT2.

Top 3 Times in Class

–LMP1–
1. #3 Peugeot Sport Total, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, 3:19.711
2. #1 Team Peugeot Total, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, 3:20.317
3. #2 Team Peugeot Total, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, 3:20.325

–LMP2–
1. #42 Strakka Racing, HPD ARX 01-c, 3:36.168
2. #26 Highcroft Racing, HPD ARX 01-c, 3:37.202
3. #40 Quifel-ASM Team, Ginetta Zytek 09S, 3:41.968

–GT1–
1. #52 Young Driver AMR, Aston Martin DBR9, 3:55.025
2. #60 Matech Competition, Ford GT, 3:57.296
3. #73 Luc Alphand Adventures, Corvette C6.R, 3:58.810

–GT2–
1. #82 Risi Competizione, Ferrari F430 GT, 3:59.233
2. #63 Corvette Racing, Corvette C6 ZR1, 4:00.097
3. #64 Corvette Racing, Corvette C6 ZR1, 4:01.012