Champions Audi maintained their firm grip on the Le Mans 24-hour sportscar classic by roaring ahead of the field during the night. The Audi number two, with record seven-times winner Tom Kristensen of Denmark among its drivers, captured the lead in the first corner on Saturday and was still ahead nine hours into the race.
Audi, the first to win with a diesel-fuelled prototype here last year, had two R10 cars in front after their third crashed out of a race made particularly tricky by changing weather conditions.
The Audi number one, relying on the three drivers who won here last year, was in second position but dropped two laps behind after German Marco Werner hit a Corvette he was overtaking and had to stop to replace some rear bodywork.
Peugeot followed four laps-off the pace with the 908 driven by a trio featuring 1997 Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve, making his Le Mans debut.
Canadian Villeneuve is bidding to join the late Graham Hill as the only other man to have achieved motor racing's triple crown of the F1 title, the Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans.
Peugeot, returning to Le Mans for the first time since their one-two-three in 1993, are following Audi by also relying on the diesel technology. They, however, were experiencing reliability problems.
WHITE SMOKE:
The other 908 was among the frontrunners when Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin had to stop because white smoke caused by a wheel-bearing problem was billowing from the rear of his car and fell out of the top five.
That same Peugeot had started in pole position but dropped back to third after going off the slippery track at the first chicane. Audi's third car was driven by German Mike Rockenfeller when it hit a guard rail coming out of the Hunaudieres straight, 90 minutes into the event.
The car was so damaged that it could not restart and the race had to continue under yellow flags with no overtaking to allow the rail to be repaired.
A safety car had been introduced already after just over an hour of racing, because of heavy rain, to allow competitors to change tyres. The Audis opted for slicks and the gamble paid off, the sun soon coming out and drying up the track.
Rain returned but the skies then cleared and Audi steered closer to a fourth successive triumph through a dry, still night.