Peugeot 908 HDi FAP

Lore & Background

Developed since 2005 and unveiled on 15 June 2006, the 908 HDi FAP was Peugeot Sport's first Le Mans effort since the Peugeot 905 project ended in 1993. It won 18 of the 28 races it entered between 2007 and 2011. The car featured a closed cockpit, a 5.5 L V12 HDi diesel engine producing over 730 hp and 1,200 N⋅m of torque, and a Ricardo electro-pneumatic gearbox. A hybrid electric variant, the 908 HY, was unveiled in 2008 but was not campaigned in 2009 as Peugeot focused on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In Their Own Story

The rain had turned the Mulsanne Straight into a slick ribbon of black water, reflecting the floodlights of the grandstands. Inside cockpit #1, Stéphane Sarrazin gripped the wheel, feeling the distinct, low-frequency thrum of the V8 diesel—a sound unlike any other on the track. As he approached the Porsche Curves, the car's torque pulled him effortlessly out of the corner, the fuel gauge dropping slower than his competitors'. It was a dance of precision; one mistake meant losing the lead to the thirsty Audi R15s chasing behind. With hours left in the race, the diesel engine didn't just run; it conserved, calculated, and waited for the perfect moment to strike.

Reader's Guide

The 908 HDi FAP debuted at the 2007 1000 km of Monza, winning its first race. It earned pole position at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008 but finished second in both years to Audi. In 2009, it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car also competed in the Le Mans Series, winning the LMP1 teams' championship in 2007. In 2008, it raced at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.

Did You Know?

• The 908 name is also shared with a Peugeot concept saloon called the 908RC, which uses the same diesel V12 engine.
• The 908 HDi FAP is not to be confused with the Porsche 908, a different sports car that raced from 1968 to 1981.
• The 908 HY hybrid variant added an 80 hp electric motor and 600 lithium ion batteries, adding about 45 kg to the car's weight.