24h Le Mans
In 2010, Peugeot became the first French manufacturer to win at Sebring, but seven drivers have previously had success in Florida.
In 2010, Peugeot became the first French manufacturer to win at Sebring, but seven drivers have previously had success in Florida.
Four of them were also successful at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Gérard Larrousse (1973-1974), Yannick Dalmas (1992-1994-1995-1999), Laurent Aiello (1998) and Romain Dumas in 2010.
The first French winner at Sebring in 1957 was Jean Behra in a Maserati 450 S in the company of none other than Juan Manuel Fangio, who that year won his fifth and last world title in Formula 1. It was not until 1971 that a French driver won again in Florida, Gerard Larrousse, with Brit Vic Elford in a Porsche 917. Another car from Stuttgart the 962, took Bob Wollek and teammate AJ Foyt to victory in 1985. In 1997, Yannick Dalmas won driving the Ferrari 333 SP prototype and Laurent Aiello in the Audi R8 in 2001 along with two Italians Dindo Capello and Michele Alboreto. In 2008, together with Timo Bernhard, Emmanuel Collard and Romain Dumas, Porsche chalked-up its first victory at Sebring in twenty years.
On 19th March Peugeot will be the logical favourite for the opening round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup No doubt the French trio hired by Peugeot, consisting of Stephane Sarrazin, Franck Montagny and Nicolas Minassian aspire to join their compatriot winners of the Florida Classic.
Jean-Philippe Doret
