Peugeot 908 HDi FAP

2007 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 12, 2012

The 24 Hours of Le Mans has had some historic battles between manufacturers since it began back in 1923. The latest of these battles has been between Audi and Peugeot. Beginning in 2007, Peugeot took Audi head on with this car, the 908 HDi FAP. Like its competitor, it is diesel-powered – a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V12 making in excess of 700 horsepower.

I should probably come clean and admit that I am a massive Audi fan. However, I will also admit that these cars are far more attractive than any of the Audi prototypes they raced against. They are gorgeous – and those wheels! The 908 was a worthy competitor to Audi’s R10 and R15, but it only got the better of them at Le Mans once – in 2009 when they finished 1-2.

The competition history of this car includes:

  • 2007 1000km Monza – 1st, in it’s debut race (with Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gené)
  • 2007 1000km Valencia – 36th, DNF (with Minassian and Gené)
  • 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans – 30th, DNF (with Minassian, Gené and Jacques Villeneuve)
  • 2007 1000km Nürburgring – 2nd (with Minassian and Gené)
  • 2007 1000km Spa – 46th, DNF (with Minassian and Gené)
  • 2007 1000km Silverstone – 1st (with Minassian and Gené)
  • 2007 Mil Milhas Brasil – 1st (with Minassian and Gené)
  • 2008 12 Hours of Sebring – 11th (with Minassian, Stéphane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy)
  • 2008 1000km Catalunya – 1st (with Minassian and Gené)
  • 2008 1000km Monza – 5th (with Minassian and Gené)
  • 2008 1000km Spa – 1st (with Minassian, Gené and Villeneuve)
  • 2008 24 Hours of Le Manes – destroyed in practice crash (with Gené)

Peugeot suddenly cancelled it’s LMP program in 2012. If you never had a chance to see these cars come whistling by you at Tertre Rouge or come flying at you at the Indianapolis and Arnage corners, well you’ve missed something beautiful. When a gasoline-powered prototype car races past, they are burbling and popping and spitting fire at an incredible volume. Not so with these cars. They are eerily quiet and you can hear them punch a hole in the air. It’s amazing. If you missed out on it, I’m sorry – but here’s your chance to buy one – and it’s the first time one has been offered for public sale.

It is expected to bring $2,000,000-$2,400,000 and is being sold directly from Peugeot. It comes with a commitment to three years of technical support from Peugeot Sport, as modern race cars are technology-laden. But it isn’t free. For the complete description, click here. And for more on RM in Monaco, click here.

Update: sold $2,175,600.