ortelli

Video courtesy of www.grid1.tv

Peugeot leads the way after the opening three hours of the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours with the diesel-powered 908 HDis occupying the top two positions, but it has been far from a trouble-free start for either the home heroes or arch-rivals and defending race-winners Audi.

by Russell Atkins Though he may have switched across to sportscars in 2008 following a year's sabbatical from driving, former Formula 1 star Olivier Panis' habitual bad luck seems to have tracked him all the way from the top flight.

Stephane Ortelli has escaped with only a broken ankle following a horrific high-speed accident in the late stages of the second round of the Le Mans Series at Monza.