No factory Peugeot team at Le Mans?
Discussion
Looks like we'll find out at the end of this month.
http://www.fatracing.co.uk/?p=1588
Doubt very much that we've seen the last of the Pugs though...
http://www.fatracing.co.uk/?p=1588
Doubt very much that we've seen the last of the Pugs though...
I'm certainly not a fan of Peugeot and last years dirty shinanigans did them no favours at all, it would be a shame to lose them. Out of Audi and Peugeot i'm always conflicted on who I'd rather win, the lesser of two evils almost! Seeing as Aston Martin are pretty much out too, its looking a bit bleak. Granted Toyota are coming back, so thats one positive.
I agree Peugeot tactics last year went to far. Anthony Davidson blocked me on twitter for these
(During LM24)
@antdavidson Peugeot tactics bordering on reckless and dangerous. Do blue flags not apply to french cars !? #lemans #lm24
(During Canadian Grand Prix Commentary)
@antdavidson "Vettel used to people getting out of the way" - Clearly not racing against the peugeot sportscar team then !
So much for interaction with the fans - I actually really enjoyed his F1 analysis on the web etc for practice sessions.
(During LM24)
@antdavidson Peugeot tactics bordering on reckless and dangerous. Do blue flags not apply to french cars !? #lemans #lm24
(During Canadian Grand Prix Commentary)
@antdavidson "Vettel used to people getting out of the way" - Clearly not racing against the peugeot sportscar team then !
So much for interaction with the fans - I actually really enjoyed his F1 analysis on the web etc for practice sessions.
He does appear to be rather 'tough' in both his defence of position and eagerness to take position (or indeed execution of team orders that weren't team orders), although I think McNish shares some of the blame for their Silverstone shenanigans.
It's a shame, as I do quite like the guy, but it does always seem to be everybody elses fault, every time.
It's a shame, as I do quite like the guy, but it does always seem to be everybody elses fault, every time.
DeanoX said:
I agree Peugeot tactics last year went to far. Anthony Davidson blocked me on twitter for these
(During LM24)
@antdavidson Peugeot tactics bordering on reckless and dangerous. Do blue flags not apply to french cars !? #lemans #lm24
(During Canadian Grand Prix Commentary)
@antdavidson "Vettel used to people getting out of the way" - Clearly not racing against the peugeot sportscar team then !
So much for interaction with the fans - I actually really enjoyed his F1 analysis on the web etc for practice sessions.
To be fair in most sports car series the blue flags are there only to alert the driver a faster car is behind, the car in front does not have to get out of the way like in F1 and its upto the faster car to overtake.(During LM24)
@antdavidson Peugeot tactics bordering on reckless and dangerous. Do blue flags not apply to french cars !? #lemans #lm24
(During Canadian Grand Prix Commentary)
@antdavidson "Vettel used to people getting out of the way" - Clearly not racing against the peugeot sportscar team then !
So much for interaction with the fans - I actually really enjoyed his F1 analysis on the web etc for practice sessions.
It would be a shame to lose the Peugeots especially with the WEC starting this year, Audi will be the only factory team running the whole season. My understanding is that they will be at Le Mans but only certain rounds of the WEC.
robmlufc said:
To be fair in most sports car series the blue flags are there only to alert the driver a faster car is behind, the car in front does not have to get out of the way like in F1 and its upto the faster car to overtake.
Even when the car is front has been lapped, or is about to be lapped ? And is clearly blocking the car behind ?Peugeot went down in my estimations (from an already pretty low position) due to their antics last year, and not just at Le Mans.
Race firmly but fairly, or not at all. I, for one, would not miss them.
Nick M said:
Even when the car is front has been lapped, or is about to be lapped ? And is clearly blocking the car behind ?
Peugeot went down in my estimations (from an already pretty low position) due to their antics last year, and not just at Le Mans.
Race firmly but fairly, or not at all. I, for one, would not miss them.
Yes even when being lapped you dont have to jump out of the way like in F1, proper overtaking is encouraged in sports car racing Peugeot went down in my estimations (from an already pretty low position) due to their antics last year, and not just at Le Mans.
Race firmly but fairly, or not at all. I, for one, would not miss them.
Blue flags are there just to let the car know something fast is coming up behind, that is all. I think blocking is considered poor form though, the idea is to stick to your racing line and speed and let the faster car overtake.I dont agree with what Peugeot did, it was a bit too blatent and far too dangerous especially so considering the massive crashes that already happened during the race.
Vocal Minority said:
It wasn't so much Peugeots actions but the almost amusingly stereotypical resistance of the French officialdom to do anything about them, whereas the No. 2 Audi got an official warning for putting two wheels over the white line on the exit of a chicane!
They did get a stop/go penalty for one of their mechanics not wearing eye protection. You enter Le Mans in the full knowledge that it is the ACO's ball, you accept that, move on, and try not to give them anything to ping you with. Don't forget, it was the ACO who rejected Peugeot's protest a few years ago regarding the legitimacy of the Audi nose, much to Olivier Quesnel's displeasure.
The situation Peugeot faced in the early hours of 12th June was many fold. Firstly, they had an excellent chance of not only winning the race, but conceivably locking out the podium. What price a total (no pun intended) Peugeot podium in advertising terms? Secondly, their only opposition was a lone car, what sort of PR would it be if they didn't win? The might of a three car (well, four car with the Oreca entry) Peugeot assault seen off by a lone Audi? Not good at all. Thirdly, and this is pure supposition by me, was this seen as their chance to win ahead of the reduction in programme that we are hearing about now? I think not, but you never know.
What we can say is that decisions were made that I certainly hope are now regretted or at least looked back on with some degree of poor judgement. The blue flags I do not have a problem with, it has always been upto the overtaking driver to make their way past and as per the GT drivers, the overtaken is advised to stick to their line and speed. What I do have an issue with is the blatant placing of a car to hinder an opponent, pushing them onto the red sections of Les Hunaudières and also the sudden slowing by 10 seconds per lap by the No. 7 Peugeot to allow the Audi to catch up and then to speed up and start playing games. That to me stinks and is not what Sportscar racing is about. Additionally, I do not believe for one second that those decisions were made on the part of the driver, no matter how vociferously they state they were, those decisions had to be part of a team strategy and one person is at the top of that, Olivier Quesnel, who has shown himself to be willing to use, shall we say, dubious tactics before in the pursuit of victory.
Audi responded in the absolute best way they could. They won, but additionally they celebrated with dignity and with the Peugeot teams, they went down to their garages and congratulated/commiserated them on the race. This has been a feature of Audi's way of racing at Le Mans and I think is why they do have a lot of support.
The situation Peugeot faced in the early hours of 12th June was many fold. Firstly, they had an excellent chance of not only winning the race, but conceivably locking out the podium. What price a total (no pun intended) Peugeot podium in advertising terms? Secondly, their only opposition was a lone car, what sort of PR would it be if they didn't win? The might of a three car (well, four car with the Oreca entry) Peugeot assault seen off by a lone Audi? Not good at all. Thirdly, and this is pure supposition by me, was this seen as their chance to win ahead of the reduction in programme that we are hearing about now? I think not, but you never know.
What we can say is that decisions were made that I certainly hope are now regretted or at least looked back on with some degree of poor judgement. The blue flags I do not have a problem with, it has always been upto the overtaking driver to make their way past and as per the GT drivers, the overtaken is advised to stick to their line and speed. What I do have an issue with is the blatant placing of a car to hinder an opponent, pushing them onto the red sections of Les Hunaudières and also the sudden slowing by 10 seconds per lap by the No. 7 Peugeot to allow the Audi to catch up and then to speed up and start playing games. That to me stinks and is not what Sportscar racing is about. Additionally, I do not believe for one second that those decisions were made on the part of the driver, no matter how vociferously they state they were, those decisions had to be part of a team strategy and one person is at the top of that, Olivier Quesnel, who has shown himself to be willing to use, shall we say, dubious tactics before in the pursuit of victory.
Audi responded in the absolute best way they could. They won, but additionally they celebrated with dignity and with the Peugeot teams, they went down to their garages and congratulated/commiserated them on the race. This has been a feature of Audi's way of racing at Le Mans and I think is why they do have a lot of support.
I had not always been a big audi fan but respected them for there dedication but last year a group of us got an invite from them to visit the pit on friday, a half hour visit turned into a two and a half hour stay, all the team turned out to be major le mans fans and genuinely please to see us and talk. I think that they enjoyed talking to real fans rather than the parade of usual sponsors/guests and even posted a message thanking us for our visit, I now have a very high opinion of that team and after feeling there pain earlier in the race was very happy when the car we spent time looking at (no 2) came home first. It will be nice if we get a pug visit this year to compare the teams
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