"Nothing can replace actual competition," continued Team Peugeot technical director Bruno Famin. "As last June's Le Mans showed, it takes experience to take on a competitor that has the benefit of 10 years of this race behind it and which stays fit by contesting more races during the season compared with Peugeot, namely in the American Le Mans Series in which it faces opponents like Porsche and Acura.
"Petit Le Mans is about traffic, safety car interventions and strategy, but it is above all 1,000 miles - or up to 10 hours - of fierce racing, which is sufficient to enable us to collect some very valuable data and information."
Peugeot entered one 908 at Sebring and finished 11th overall (fourth in LMP1) for its first start in North America. It went on to finish second, third and fifth at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June as the lead 908 finished on the same lap as race winners McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen in an Audi R10 TDI.
"With Peugeot entering two cars, Petit Le Mans has the potential of literally being a continuation of the epic battle that raged between them and the diesel Audis for 24 hours at Le Mans," Atherton added. "And for fans of truly world class sports car racing - does it get any better?
"Audi against Peugeot against Porsche against Acura against many others over the course of 1,000 miles will undoubtedly be one for the history books - and certainly one of the highlights of what has been an extraordinary 10th season."
