McNish fails to take Le Mans pole

Published on Friday 15 June 2007 00:06

ALLAN McNish congratulated rivals Peugeot for clinching provisional pole for this weekend's 75th Le Mans - but knows the battle for supremacy has only just started.

McNish was denied temporary top spot in the dying moments of the second two-hour session just after midnight yesterday by Stephane Sarrazin, who posted a record lap for the revised 13.629km circuit.

On a drying track after earlier rain, and on slick tyres, the Audi driver knocked the Frenchman off the top of the standings late on. But it was Sarrazin who had the last laugh - for now at least - by posting a time of three minutes 26.344 seconds.

"Qualifying was pretty difficult, purely because of the weather," said 37-year-old Scot McNish, who won the endurance classic in 1998.

"It came down to the last ten to 15 minutes when everybody finally bolted on slicks and was able to get on with the programme. I had two reasonable laps. Although a little bit of traffic in the second of those in the last chicane was a little frustrating.

"You work for nine and a half miles, and then in the last section you see the time slipping away.

"But I honestly don't think I lost six tenths of a second, which is the difference between us and the Peugeot.

"We always knew they would be fast. So for now, I'll congratulate them on provisional pole position."

Qualifying was due to conclude late last night with another two 120-minute periods, with the best time from the four sessions counting towards the make-up of the grid.

On their return to Le Mans after a 13-year absence, Peugeot are certainly throwing down the gauntlet to Audi, who have won six of the last seven Le Mans.

Last year's success was an historic one because for the first time a diesel-powered car triumphed, with Peugeot following Audi's lead for 2007.

The two manufacturers locked out the top five positions, and it is certain a titanic duel is in store over the 24 hours that start at 3pm on tomorrow.

The second Peugeot of former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, current Ferrari test driver Marc Gene and Nicolas Minassion for now occupies third position.

Then come the other two Audis, with reigning champions Emanuele Pirro, Frank Biela and Marco Werner fourth at present.