Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
Diesel-powered closed-cockpit prototype that won Le Mans in 2009.
The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP is a closed-cockpit sports prototype racing car built by Peugeot for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Developed from 2005, it was publicly shown on 15 June 2006 and first raced in 2007, eventually winning Le Mans in 2009. It marked Peugeot Sport’s return to endurance racing after the 905 project ended in 1993. The car competed in 28 races between 2007 and 2011, winning 19 of them.
The name breaks down as follows: “908” follows Peugeot’s 90x series for racing cars; “HDi” stands for High Pressure Direct Injection; “FAP” is French for particulate filter. The 908 name also appears on a concept saloon called the 908RC, which shares the diesel V12 from the race car, and on the successor prototype simply called “908.” It should not be confused with the Porsche 908, a different sports car that raced from 1968 to 1981.
The car’s chassis is a carbon fibre monocoque, chosen for rigidity and low weight. Peugeot built the chassis themselves rather than outsourcing. The closed cockpit was the first in an LMP since the Bentley Speed 8, partly to allow a larger air restrictor under rules requiring air conditioning in closed designs. Peugeot believed the weight and centre-of-gravity drawbacks could be offset by better rigidity and aerodynamics. The door uses a two-part system: the upper window swings forward and out, while the lower sidepod section can swing out or be removed entirely, to meet door-size regulations. The car measures 4.65 m by 2 m and weighs a minimum of 925 kg. Suspension is linked front and rear, steering is electrically powered, and magnesium wheels come from BBS.
The drivetrain uses a 5.5-litre HDi diesel V12, the maximum engine size allowed by Le Mans Prototype rules. Its 100° V-angle was chosen to lower the centre of gravity. Output is over 730 hp and 1200 Nm of torque, nearly 10% more than the Audi R10 TDI. The oil system was developed with TotalEnergies. The electro-pneumatic gearbox, designed and built by Ricardo, is longitudinal with up to six ratios, and the differential is self-locking.
At the 2008 1000 km of Silverstone, Peugeot unveiled the 908 HY, a hybrid electric variant with KERS. It added an 80 hp electric motor that replaced the standard starter motor, powered by 600 lithium-ion batteries located in the cockpit and on the left bottom of the car.
- Engine
- 5.5 L HDi diesel V12, 100° angle, twin-turbocharged
- Power
- over 730 hp
- Torque
- 1200 Nm
- Weight
- 925 kg minimum
- Dimensions
- 4.65 m × 2 m
- First public test
- 10 January 2007 at Paul Ricard HTTT
- Race debut
- 2007 1000 km of Monza
Lore & Background
The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP was publicly unveiled on 15 June 2006, with development having begun in 2005. It first competed against the Audi R10 TDI, becoming the second diesel engined sports car from a major manufacturer, and later against the Audi R15 TDI. The name '908 HDi FAP' refers to Peugeot's 90x series for racing cars; HDi stands for 'High Pressure Direct Injection' and FAP for 'Filtre à particules' (particulate filter). The 908 name is also shared with a Peugeot concept saloon, the 908RC, and with the successor sports prototype for 2011, simply named '908'. It is not to be confused with the Porsche 908 that raced from 1968 to 1981.
The car features a closed cockpit, the first Le Mans Prototype (LMP) since the Bentley Speed 8 to race with such a design, possibly intended to allow a larger air restrictor due to rules mandating air conditioning on closed cockpits. The body is a carbon fibre monocoque, and the cockpit uses a unique two-part door system. The 5.5 L V12 diesel engine produces over 730 hp and 1200 Nm of torque. The electro-pneumatic gearbox was designed and built by Ricardo. In 2008, Peugeot unveiled the 908 HY, a hybrid electric variant with KERS, adding an 80 hp electric motor and 600 lithium ion batteries, though the hybrid was not campaigned in 2009 as Peugeot concentrated on the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Reader's Guide
The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP marked Peugeot's return to top-level endurance racing after a 14-year hiatus. Its diesel V12 engine, the maximum size allowed by Le Mans Prototype rules, delivered nearly 10% more torque than the Audi R10 TDI. The car achieved its most notable victory at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, fulfilling the program's primary goal. Over its racing career from 2007 to 2011, the 908 won 19 of 28 races, demonstrating consistent competitiveness. The 908 HY hybrid variant, though not raced in the 2009 season, represented an early exploration of hybrid technology in endurance racing. The car's closed cockpit design, a departure from many contemporary prototypes, influenced subsequent LMP regulations. Peugeot's decision to build the chassis in-house rather than rely on an external manufacturer underscored the company's commitment to the project. The 908's rivalry with Audi's diesel prototypes defined a significant era in Le Mans history.
Did You Know?
- The Peugeot 908 HDi FAP won 19 of the 28 races it entered between 2007 and 2011.
- The 908's 5.5 L V12 diesel engine produced over 730 hp and 1200 Nm of torque.
- A hybrid electric variant, the 908 HY, was unveiled in 2008 but not campaigned in 2009.
- The car's closed cockpit was the first such design in LMP since the Bentley Speed 8.
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