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Peugeot's dream of a title-winning return to the Le Mans 24 Hours Race after a 14-year absence could be washed away by heavy rain which is threatening the 75th edition of the endurance race.

Sebastien Bourdais, Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy took their Peugeot to the front of the grid ahead of the Audi of Tom Kristensen, bidding for an eighth title, Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello in qualifying.

The second Peugeot of former world Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve, Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gene shares the second row with the Audi of defending champions Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner.

But it's the weather which is occupying most teams' thoughts.

"If the temperature stays the same, the weather could be the number one factor," said Jacky Ickx, a former six-time winner of the gruelling event.

"In weather conditions like these everyone will have a role to play."

Around 100 000 spectators are expected to watch the race which has already fallen foul of the rain with none of the runners able to improve on their qualifying times on Thursday.

Audi, who have won six of the last seven races, are taking the Peugeot threat seriously but believe they may have a trump card by running three cars.

"If it rains and there are a number of incidents on the track, it's an advantage to have a third car," said Ralf Juttner, the technical director of the Joest team running the Audi.

Rain is expected to fall at the start and finish of the race but that won't put a cloud over Villeneuve who is attempting to become only the second man in history to win motor racing's Triple Crown.

Victory on Sunday would see him equal Graham Hill's feat of winning Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula 1 world championship.

"I would love to win the triple crown," said Villeneuve who is taking part in his first Le Mans race.

"It would be fantastic to do that with Peugeot. I love working with the team. There is a very good bond. If I and the team did win then that would obviously reflect well on everyone."

AFP