Pescarolo 'honoured' by Peugeot Le Mans deal

[John S]

By Gary Watkins Today Autosport.com

Le Mans legend Henri Pescarolo has described Peugeot's decision to lend his team a Peugeot 908 HDi for this year's 24 Hours as "a real honour".

Pescarolo Sport will run the Peugeot turbodiesel prototype at Le Mans alongside one of their own revised Judd-powered LMP1s.

He said the offer from the French manufacturer, which came in the run-up to the closing date for entries at the end of January, was "a big surprise".

"It is such an honour to be chosen by Peugeot, because this is the first time in its history that it has given one of its sportscars to a privateer," said four-time Le Mans winner Pescarolo. "It is a real honour, but also a big responsibility.

"When I was driving for Reinhold Joest [with whom Pescarolo won the 24-hour races at Le Mans and Daytona], it was his dream to run a factory team and then it happened with Audi. If you have a top team that is competitive, you always want to work with a manufacturer."

Pescarolo stressed that he remained a privateer and would be "in full sporting control" of the Peugeot. He explained that it would be Pescarolo Sport's aim to not to beat the factory cars but "to help them beat Audi".

The team will run an updated 2008 908, which will not have the latest specification engine. Pescarolo Sport will not get their hands on the car until the end of May and expect to be able to fit in only one serious test prior to the 24 Hours on June 13/14.

No drivers have been announced for the Pescarolo Peugeot, which will run in the same colours as his own chassis. He expects Jean-Christophe Boullion to remain on his squad and is also hopeful that Benoit Treluyer will return for Le Mans.