Audi celebrate 1-2-3 in Le Mans 24 hour race

[Blue_Tires]

Audi filled the top three spots at the Le Mans 24 hour race after Peugeot's three works cars were forced to retire.

Audi's ninth win at the 8.4-mile circuit tied them with Ferrari for second place among the most successful manufacturers in Le Mans history.

Porsche has the best record with 16 wins at the famous endurance race.

Timo Bernhard, teaming up with fellow German Mike Rockenfeller and Frenchman Romain Dumas, completed 397 laps, one more than their nearest rivals.

France's Benoit Treluyer lagged one lap behind with Italy's Dindo Capello - part of a trio of drivers including Britain's Allan McNish - three laps back.

Fifth place went to the all-British line-up of Nick Leventis, Danny Watts and Jonny Kane in the Strakka HPD ARX.01c.

Defending champion Peugeot had been considered hot favourites after securing the four top spots on the starting grid. They clearly had the fastest cars but ran into problems during the race, while Audi took advantage of their own cars' better reliability.

The last works Peugeot left running, driven by Alexander Wurz, Marc Gene and Britain's Anthony Davidson, dropped out with engine failure with just two hours remaining at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/8737717.stm