When we hit the road for the 2009 Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA6, we knew we were in for a special few days at the race track.  With the weather reports predicting gloom and doom over the skies of Atlanta, we prepared for the worst and figured the weather would at least for some interesting racing.  We weren’t disappointed in the least.   Thankfully, the weather gave us a couple of days of fantastic weather with blue skies and sunshine before the heavens opened up on Saturday. 

Now that we’re back home (with a few bumps, bruises and fire ant bites), we can get to work.  Jack Baruth will be posting up his thoughts on the weekend in a new Avoidable Contact post that will be up soon, and Nick Salvatore is busy twittering away about the weekend.  So, I guess that leaves me to produce something of value from the trip by way of these photo galleries.  I’ve created several galleries from the various events throughout the weekend and inserted them all into this post.   I probably have a few more photos to upload to each of the galleries throughout the day, but this should get you started.  

View full 2009 Petit Le Mans Photo Galleries after the jump

Continue reading 2009 Petit Le Mans Mega Photo Gallery

Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin gave Peugeot its first American Le Mans Series victory on Friday, winning a weather-shortened 12th annual Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA6. Race officials, citing hazardous conditions due to torrential rains that fell at Road Atlanta just past the four-hour mark, called the race at eight hours, 44 minutes running.

Peugeot’s two diesel-powered factory prototype coupes finished 1-2 with the pole-sitting 908 HDi of Pedro Lamy and Nic Minassian in second. The first of Audi Sport Team Joest’s Audi R15 TDIs placed third, the car driven by Allan McNish and Dindo Capello. The Peugeot-Peugeot-Audi finish mirrored the end result at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, and it ended Audi’s nine-year unbeaten streak at Road Atlanta.

“We only did three races this year,” Montagny said. “We missed Sebring by only 22 seconds, and it was a win for the Peugeot team at Le Mans and a win here. I think if we had a full time we really would have battled it out with the Audis.”

Continue reading 2009 Petit Le Mans Wrap-Up

Photos by Zerin Dube

Full Photo Gallery After the Jump

Continue reading 2009 Petit Le Mans – Day 2 – American Le Mans Series Practice and Qualifying Gallery