The stunning Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs are increasingly looking like favourites to take the Le Mans 24-hour race in June after a comfortable victory in the LMS sports car race in Spain.

Facing arch (diesel) rivals Audi, Peugeot scored pole and a race win.

Drivers Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gene inherited the lead from the sister Peugeot of Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin after an hour and a half, when the crew were forced into the pits for repairs after a collision with Michael Vergers' LMP2 Barazi Zytek.

Of the two Audis taking part in the 600-mile race, McNish and Capello suffered reliability problems, while the 'junior' car of Mike 'Rocky' Rockenfeller and Alex Premat came home second.

Scoring an amazing third on its debut was the Charouz Racing Technology Lola Aston Martin. The fastest of all the petrol-powered LMP1 cars, the wailing V12 Aston-powered car even battled with Peugeot and Audi in the early stages.

Perhaps Aston is in with a shout of Le Mans glory this year, albeit a year early...

Nick Trott