Peugeot adds Sebring to its tally

Peugeot has become the first French manufacturer to win the Sebring 12 Hours in the event’s 58-year history.

The victory was also the first by a non-German manufacturer since Ferrari scored the last of its wins in the Florida enduro in 1998. Victory for team newcomer Anthony Davidson, Alex Wurz and Marc Gené means that Peugeot has now won the last three big enduros run to Le Mans rules – the 24 Hours itself last June, the Petit Le Mans 1000-miler at Road Atlanta last autumn and now Sebring.

Peugeot Sport boss Olivier Quesnel said: “We can be proud to have added a French victory to this race’s roll of honour, and the 908 has now succeeded in winning all the main endurance events. It’s a promising result, but we can’t afford to take our eyes off the ball.”

Audi, which was defeated only once at Sebring in the Noughties, was not present. It claimed its 2010 car would not be ready to race and plans to run an interim R15 were blocked by Peugeot.