+ Click to Enlarge FAST BUT FRAGILE: Peugeot's 908 HDi diesel racing car recorded the fastest lap in pre-season testing for the 2007 Le Mans series but suffered some reliability problems.

June 17, 2007

By Patrick Vignal

Le Mans, France - Britain's Allan McNish set a lap record here in the early hours of Sunday morning as Audi edged closer to a fourth consecutive Le Mans triumph.

McNish, driving the leading Audi R10 diesel, clocked 3min27.204 around the 13.629km track to beat the 3min27.47 set by Eddie Irvine in a Toyota in 1993.

The average speed of more than 236 km/h managed just after the halfway stage by Audi's No.2 car that has been leading almost from Saturday's start highlighted the German manufacturers' domination of the race.

Audi was the first brand to win here with a diesel-fuelled prototype in 2006. It has two cars still in the race after their third crashed out of a race made particularly tricky by changing weather.

Audi's third car was being driven by German Mike Rockenfeller when it hit a guard rail coming out of the Hunaudieres straight, 90 minutes into the event. Damage to the car meant that it could not restart.

The Audi No.1 with the same three drivers who won in 2006, was second and two laps behind.

Peugeot, challenging Audi with its diesel cars, was a distant six laps off the pace with the 908 driven by a trio that includes former Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve in his Le Mans debut.

Canadian Villeneuve is bidding to join the late Graham Hill by becoming only the second person to win motor racing's triple crown - the F1 title, the Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans.

Peugeot is back at Le Mans for the first time since its 1-2-3 in 1993. The other 908 fell out of the top 10 after experiencing mechanical trouble on Saturday but was moving up the field on Sunday and was fifth after 14 hours of racing.

Rain spoiled the first few hours of the race but then the sky cleared and Audi stamped its authority on the race during a dry, still night. - Reuters