Being a clever sort, you’ll have noticed that this isn’t a blog about Formula 1. It’s not even a blog about grand prix racing. It’s about endurance racing, and more importantly, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The big one.
As I type, 15 Top Gear staffers are packing the tents, about to head out the door to catch the magic train that will take us across the English Channel and into France for the weekend.
We’re travelling down in convoy in a KTM X-Bow and an Alpina D3 both in white, a dark grey Freelander, and a blue Focus RS – give us a honk if you see us!
Obviously the big duel on track is between the dieselly might of Audi and the young pretenders Peugeot in the LMP1 class, but – and you can guess where I’m about to go with this – we’ll be hoisting the Union Jack in support of Aston Martin.
Apart from the fact that we love an underdog – a British underdog at that – we’ve quite fallen for their cars, in that classic Gulf livery.
Vive la Revolution!
We’ll be updating Sunday Afternoon Club with some subversive Le Mans action over the weekend, so come back here to see what the TG Crew have been getting up to.
It’ll probably be a load of drunken nonsense and pictures of us sitting around at the campsite, but that’s endurance racing for you…
Go on, who’s your money on?
I so want to say Aston…
but it’ll be Audi and their insane precision.
You’ll probably all hate me for this, but, except from the Gulf Livery, the Audi looks so much more awesome.
Who’s driving for Aston?
I also want to say Aston Martin, but feel that Audi is a more likely winner. I’ll still be cheering them on though! It’d be great to win it exactly 50 years after winning it last time in the DBR1!
catersam – 008: Anthony Davidson, Stuart Hall, Jos Verstappen, 007: Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge, Stefan Mücke, 009: Harold Primat, Miguel Ramos, Darren Turner.
I say Aston
Oh dear – the highest qualifying Astons are 8th & 9th…
Still, slow and steady and all that.
Peugeot on pole…..third time lucky?
I hate to say this, but in all honesty I think it will still be Audi that wins the race this weekend.
I will be supporting Aston Martin of course though. Their cars look the best and, in my opinion, they have the spirit of a race winning team.
But who knows this is Le Mans…. the unexpected can happen!
Peugeot all the way for me!
Drunk camping is the greatest thing in the world.
I say audi will win sadly but I hope aston martin will win
Go Aston Martin
ASTON FOR THE WIN…………..
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ANYONE?
3 TEAMS TO WIN IT PEUGEOT,AUDI&PESCAROLO DEISEL!
Really miffed I’m not going this year. Been the last 2 years with a group of family and friends, and had an amazing time. This year, though – there just isn’t enough spare money.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! I Love Le Mans
You have to feel for Peugeot, They have been trying so hard, but Audi keep pipping them to the finish, honestly as much as its a crime to go against Aston on this site… I kinda want Peugeot to win… if they do they may celebrate by makin a proper hot hatch again… They need to do somethin with the millions they’ve pumped into their race tech.
I love le mans! it is one of the greatest motorsport competitions of the world. there are so many fantastic cars and the athmosphere is just incredible.
I love the moment when the cars go into the night..everything is just incredible. I hope that we will see another winner this year maybe peugeot?
Peugeot seems to be lucky enough to get the pole position. i really do hope that they win … better yet someone else from other classes. Audi has one of the best looking LMP1 and has enough Le Mans trophy. They’ll be having too much to brag about if they win again.
pescarolo diesel for the win,i hope they knock audi off their bleeping perch!
Hurray! we’ll be able to see the race over here in Australia now ( Saturday evening ) thanks to one of the free-to-air channels and their also broadcasting the FIA GT’s.
I’m betting it’s still going to be the Audi LMP/TD’s but you can never discount the very quick and hungry to win Peugeot LMP/TD’s, the LMP Aston also has got the experience now with their recent GT stints.
Remember Audi have one of the best British drivers ever in McNish.
My money would be on Audi for the win, and the odds at the bookies seem to agree…
My underdog vote goes to Aston Martin simply because of the team spirit and determination that they’ve shown against the superior budgets of Audi and Peugeot. I cannot vote for Peugeot (although I think they are deserving of a win with all the effort they’ve put in) because I just don’t see the sense in their entry? They don’t make sporty cars anymore and their cars really are not at the leading edge of technology. So what are they doing there? It would make more sense to rebadge the team as Citroen! Anyway, they serve the purpose of making Audi even better at what they’ve been doing for the last few years now: winning.
I have to say though the Astons look awesome in their Gulf livery, better than the bland Audi livery, Excluding the livery used I think the Audi does look most awesome!
Go Aston!