Car & Automobile: Le Mans 2010: Peugeot grabs first four grid spots, Corvette on GT2 pole

Filed under: Motorsports, Audi, Chevrolet, Honda, Jaguar, Ferrari, Peugeot, Diesel, Racing

Peugeot 908 HDi qualifying for Le Mans 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Qualifying the 24 Hours Le Mans getting quite predictable, with the big question being which the Peugeot 908s will come out top. After three timed sessions over two days, the No. 3 Peugeot Pedro Lamy, Sebastien Bourdais Simon Pagenaud came was quickest as the four French diesels filled the first two rows the grid. Right behind them are the three factory Audi R15+ TDIs then two Aston Martin-Lolas.

Down field LMP2 ranks, Honda powered ARX-01c campaigned UK-based Strakka racing lapped eight-mile circuit 1.46 seconds faster than a similar car being run defending American Le Mans Series champs Highcroft Racing. 2010 is final year eligibility GT1 class at Le Mans and Aston Martin hopes go out style. The DBR9 driven Tomas Enge, Christoph Nygaard and Peter Kox edged out a pair Ford GTs and ex-factory GT1 Corvettes.

In GT2, ALMS regulars ruled roost. The No.82 Risi Ferrari ran fastest its time was disallowed because of an unknown technical infraction. As result, two Corvette ʤ.Rs will lead GT2 field green flag with Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta Emmanuel Collard pole. Unfortunately for JaguarRSR team, cool green-and-black leaping cat livery has not translated into much speed XKR finishing dead last qualifying, nearly 13 seconds slower per lap than the lead Vette. The green flag falls at 3PM CET on Saturday, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Le Mans 2010: Qualifying and practice