Sad - no Pescarolos this year
Sad - no Pescarolos this year
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lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,183 posts

242 months

Thursday 29th April 2010
quotequote all
Announced in the paper here on Tuesday, it seems that there will be no nos 16 and 17 racing. According to the article the potential buyer, Genii, has pulled out and the team has debts of over £2 million. Indeed, they are it seems in danger of going bankrupt. They are also being pursued by the ACO for non-delivery of Formula Renault cars for driver training which are several months adrift.

JimBigLicks

82 posts

202 months

Thursday 29th April 2010
quotequote all

lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,183 posts

242 months

Thursday 29th April 2010
quotequote all
AFAIK that story is about as correct as that the moon is made of green cheese. Boulier is still there as a director, and Pescarolo himself has not been involved for quite some time.

JimBigLicks

82 posts

202 months

Thursday 29th April 2010
quotequote all
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89ric_Boullier

I did hear the same as you regarding no Pescarolo though.

I can't for life of me remember where it was.

They're only down for having one car (official Pescarolo team car) on the list of entrants.

After a little investigation - http://www.planetlemans.com/2010/04/27/pescarolo-f...

I hope they stay in for this LM24 at least, I quite like them.

Edit - a quick shuft on Pescarolo's own site.

No Boullier list on the staff. Jean Py listed as Manager from Nov 2009. Henri listed as Sports Director.

I don't know how up to date their site is but I guess their fan base might diminish a little if it was public that Henri was no longer a part.



Edited by JimBigLicks on Thursday 29th April 21:57

Red Firecracker

5,346 posts

256 months

Thursday 29th April 2010
quotequote all
The Sora entry (No. 18) is also a Pescarolo, so the cloud is over that car and the 'factory' No. 17. The Oak Racing P2 car's are, I believe from press reports, okay.

lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,183 posts

242 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
For those of you who can read French, here is the article.


lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,183 posts

242 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
The story gets sadder. In today's paper Pescarolo is interviewed and says that he was effectively sacked from the company by the new owner at the end of last year and that he won't even be at Le Mans this year for the first time in 30 years - he's fly-fishing in Ireland. Apparently there is a court case pending over his dismissal. His opinon is that the new owner bought the company for the technology to make the ACO Formula Renaults and really had no interest in the racing side.

chevronb37

6,472 posts

215 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
Rubbish news in every direction. JCB's drive at Silverstone last year was truly stunning - the Pescarolo with the right development had the potential to be the fastest LMP1 petrol car bar none. Awful news for Henri, but hopefully he is sufficiently well-connected and motivated to do something new.

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

279 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
Blimey. What a sad story that is.

davidd

6,713 posts

313 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
That really is gutting, Henri Pescarolo really is the spirit of Le Mans..

Very sad news..

I'm going to make an exception and do the lotto tomorrow, if I win a packet I'll do something wink

D

BIG BAVARIAN

452 posts

239 months

Saturday 1st May 2010
quotequote all
Gutted to read that, i was also at silverstone last september for the 1000km, my first time ever and i only went because i knew "uncle henri" was going to be their,didn't care less that mansell was also racing. weeping

chevronb37

6,472 posts

215 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
quotequote all
Here is Henri (well the back of him anyway). Photo I took immediately after J-C B finished that astounding stint at Silverstone last year. What a paid of total dudes.


lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,183 posts

242 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
quotequote all
The story wists and turns. Friday Pescarolo was interviewed again and said he was sad that there would be none of his cars racing this year but since he was no longer involved with the team he couldn't influence the issue. Jean Py, the new owner of the Pescarolo team then stated in the weekend paper that he had suddenly found a sponsor and that the cars would be racing. Curiouser and curiouser.

Edit: while typing this an email arrived from the ACO. Team Modena and their Ferrari 430 have withdrawn.

Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 6th May 09:23

lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,183 posts

242 months

Friday 7th May 2010
quotequote all
The fianl story: received the ACO press release and Pescarolo have given up so no Pescarolo this year. Also Pekaracing and Sora Sport have also withdrawn today.

JimBigLicks

82 posts

202 months

Friday 7th May 2010
quotequote all
A big thumbs down.

Henri will be back one day I hope.


Rude-boy

22,227 posts

262 months

Friday 7th May 2010
quotequote all
Very sad.

I've had the the pleasure of M. Pescarolos company a few times, thanks to being with the right people at the right time, and he has always come across as a genuine man with real passion for the sport.

I have a fantastic photo of him from last years LM and the g/f's prize bit of memorabilia from '09 is her pass, signed by him.