Leafield-based Super Aguri F1 team driver Franck Montagny set the fastest time in official warm-up trials for the forthcoming Le Mans 24 Hours.

Montagny's Pescarolo ultimately set the day's fastest time around the 8.48-mile French circuit, partly made up of closed public roads, in warm, dry conditions. The Frenchman set a 3min 30.195secs lap in the final minutes, after Audi had headed the field for much of the day.

Audi's new R10 TDI diesel-powered sportscar registered the second and fourth fastest times with Dumfries-born Allan McNish in the runner-up spot, sharing a car with Rinaldo Capello (Italy) and Tom Kristensen (Denmark) in the annual Le Mans race on June 17-18.

Audi bids to become the first manufacturer to win the Le Mans race with a diesel-powered sportscar having already scored five victories (2000-02, 2004 and 2005) with the petrol-engined Audi R8, which is not eligible to race in Europe due to new regulations, since the German manufacturer's Le Mans dbut in 1999.

This year's race starts at 4pm (BST) on Saturday, June 17, an hour later than normal due to World Cup television schedules.