Following Peugeot’s recent announcement that it will contest the 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the French carmaker will now compete head-to-head with its rival Audi at Silverstone, in the Petit Le Mans and in Asia.

Peugeot Sport Director Olivier Quesnel: “The programme we announced at the beginning of 2010 included two of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup races – at Silverstone and in China, a market which is very important for the PSA Group. Given the hard work the ACO has put in to put this series together, we and the PSA Group’s senior management decided to add the third fixture included in the ILMC’s calendar, the Petit Le Mans.”

Audi and Drayson Racing have already confirmed entries for the inaugural ILMC, and Aston Martin Racing is expected to follow suit before entries close on May 31.
The 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup will award Manufacturers’ titles in the LMP1 and LMGT2 classes. In 2011, the ILMC could become a world trophy and be extended to feature six rounds, including the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Spa 1,000km.

Peugeot and Audi will now compete directly five times this year, with the first clash at Spa-Francorchamps in a fortnight’s time. Audi carried out a 30-hour endurance test last week, with Tom Kristensen, who has been declared fit for Spa.
Peugeot’s drivers, meanwhile, are on a three-day team-building exercise in Chamonix, with a programme that includes rock climbing, mountain biking and climbing the Aiguille du Midi and Arête des Cosmiques peaks…
Marc Gené and Franck Montagny aren’t taking part, since the Spaniard is working at Le Castellet this week to test Michelin wet weather tyres, while the Frenchman is competing in the Superleague Formula.

24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi, Michelin, Peugeot