Peugeot one-two again

Highcroft Racing and BMW secured their respective titles in the ALMS.

The 2010 Petit Le Mans got off to a flying start as Franck Montagny and Allan McNish tucked in behind Marc Gene to provide the spectators with an exciting scrap as they battled for second spot. The Frenchman eventually emerged in front on lap 11.

Peugeot and Audi then traded the lead several times as a function of their respective strategies and the numerous safety car interruptions. Lotterer damaged the N°9 Audi when he straddled a kerb and fell back down the leaderboard, leaving a single Audi to face the two Peugeots.

The outcome of the race was effectively settled shortly before the seventh hour when Dindo Capello (N°7 Audi) made an unscheduled pit stop because his balaclava kept falling over his eyes when braking.

The two French cars took full advantage of the gift to establish a safe gap and Audi never looked capable of turning the tables after that setback.

After covering 394 laps (1000 miles) in nine hours and 12 minutes - making it one of the fastest Petit Le Mans races on record - the N°08 Peugeot of Sarrazin/Montagny/Lamy went on to finish just over a minute clear of the N°07 sister car of Davidson/Wurz/Gene. The result was the second straight win for Sarrazin and Montagny at Road Atlanta.

In addition to clinching the 2010 ALMS title when it completed 70 per cent of the race distance, the Highcroft Racing HPD of Brabham/Pagenaud/Franchitti went on to finish fourth overall and first in LMP2. The Porsche Cytosport crashed out early in the race.

The battle for GT honours was as fierce as they come from the first to the very last metre. The N°62 Ferrari of Bruni/Vilander lost an almost certain win when it ran out of fuel on the final lap, handing victory to the N°4 Corvette and the 2010 ALMS Manufacturers' crown to BMW.

It was the last race of the season, but it provided Corvette with its first win of the season. The GT2 drivers' title went to Flying Lizard's Bergmeister and Long.

The MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge was won by the N°92 BMW (GT) and the Lola Drayson (LMP), although the overall titles for the season go to the Highcroft Racing HPD and the N°45 Flying Lizard Porsche. The LMPC win went to Level 5 Motorsport (Tucker/Bouchut).