One month, one symbolic date: 6 Hours of Imola 2011

A one-two finish for Team Peugeot Total with the Peugeot 908

With the recently unveiled 2024 version of the Peugeot 9X8 making its competitive début this month at the 6 Hours of Imola, round two of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, a perfect opportunity presented itself to look back on the 2011 edition.

At the time, the race was contested as part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, predecessor to the FIA WEC, which was officially launched a year later in 2012. Team Peugeot Sport Total was competing with two V8-engine Peugeot 908 HDIs in 2011 and produced a genuinely masterful display at the Italian event, as the car driven by British driver Anthony Davidson and Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais crossed the finishing line first at the end of the 220 lap race. Team Peugeot Sport Total even made it a stunning one-two as the sister car, driven by French pair Franck Montagny and Stéphane Sarrazin, finished as runners-up while the Audi R18 TDI of Marcel Fässler and Timo Bernhard took the final podium spot.

The season, which kicked off in Sebring and featured seven rounds, the highlight obviously being the 24 Hours of Le Mans, had already seen Team Peugeot Sport Total secure a one-two at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, thanks to Davidson – Wurz – Gené and Montagny – Sarrazin – Minassian. After Imola, Team Peugeot Sport Total would pick up further wins at Silverstone (United Kingdom) with Pagenaud – Bourdais and Petit Le Mans (United States) with Sarrazin – Montagny – Wurz, before ending the season in style with another one-two at Zhuhai in China with Davidson – Bourdais and Montagny – Sarrazin. The French team’s performances, proudly sporting Total colours, meant it ended the season with the manufacturers’ and teams’ titles.