Peugeot's diesel Le Mans challenger

Audi rewrote history by winning this year’s Le Mans 24-hour race with its diesel-powered R10 TDI, and now Peugeot wants a slice of the action.

The French car-maker has just announced its intention to contest the 2007 Le Mans endurance series with its new 908 racer, which is propelled by a V12 Hdi turbodiesel engine(pictured). Of course, its green credentials are impeccable, thanks to a diesel particulate filter system (DPFS).

Peugeot already has a proven record of competing in the premier sports car category, having won the World Sports Car Championship and Le Mans 24-hour race in 1992 with the 905. The following year it nabbed the top three spots at Le Mans with the 905.

However, while the 905 adhered to convention with its 3.5-litre V10 petrol engine, the 908’s 5.5-litre V12 HDi unit will put it among the minority in next year’s series. Audi is so far the only other manufacturer that has engaged in a full-scale diesel assault on Le Mans.

The 908’s V12 displaces 5.5 litres, the maximum capacity the regulations allow. The French marque says the V12 is expected to belt out over 515kW and an earth-rotating 1200Nm when fully sorted.

Peugeot says the choice of a V12 format helps keep the cylinder bore diameter very close to that of a production series engine, and this configuration also ensures the engine has a reasonable length piston stroke and keeps vibration to a minimum.

The V12 engine uses a 100-degree V angle for its architecture, allowing its centre of gravity to be lowered without affecting its torsional rigidity, according to Peugeot. Two diesel particulate filters are mounted at the end of each of the exhaust systems to put a cap on emission levels.

The 908 will debut as a scale model at September’s Paris Motor Show and the V12 powerplant will run on an engine test bed in the same month. Its first run in anger will take place in December, with 1993 Le Mans champion Eric Hélary behind the wheel.

Meantime Peugeot has also announced that it will wheel out its stunning 907 supercar concept (also pictured) at the July 8-9 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.

The gob-smacking GT concept has a 6.0-litre V12 with over 373kW and is fabricated from lightweight carbonfibre. It’s bound to prompt more than its fair share of rubber-necking when it fires up for Goodwood’s ‘Supercar Run.’