Wednesday 18th January 2012

Peugeot pulls out of sports car racing

French manufacturer cancels Le Mans programme with immediate effect

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Peugeot has revealed that it has given its endurance racing programme the chop - including its participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

With the Peugeot 908 HDi, the French manufacturer has been Audi's main sports car rival - and its only diesel competitor since 2007, winning the legendary Le Mans endurance race in 2009 and taking the first Intercontinental Le Mans Cup title last year.

"This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe," said Peugeot in a statement. "Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012."

It's an undeniable blow for the LMP1 Le Mans category, especially since Toyota will not have a full campaign ready this year, and Porsche's embryonic challenger won't be ready until 2014.

[dele]

Wow, didnt see that comming

[marcosgt]

Damn....

M

[Sir_Dave]

dele said:

Wow, didnt see that comming

Nope.

Bit of a one horse now for this year at Le Mans then lol.

[dtrump]

oh FFS

[Northern Munkee]

Wonder what Audi & the ACO might make of it? Makes outright/LMP1 victory a tad hollow.

[Veeayt]

Finally we'll be watching Le Mans without diesel duel. Great news!

[The Danimal]

Oh dear. That must have been a very difficult decision, especially for a French manufacturer. The must really be in the shizzle.

[escortwagon]

Hopefully toyota will be strong enough to challenge. They have a good record in prototypes.

It always felt clear that Peugeot's continuation hinged on 2011 somewhat, and with only one win in the bag they probably couldn't keep justifying it to the bigwigs. meh

[Mr.Jimbo]

Bugger.

[delays]

Congratulations to Audi for winning Le Mans 2012.

[flattotheboards]

That’s a shame, the tactics they displayed at last years race were dreadful but they were the only competitor that could hold a candle to the Audi's. Hopefully Toyota can put on a good show and provide us with an interesting battle at this years race.

[davepoth]

This is, perversely, good news. With only one (non French) diesel team there's no spectacle any more, so the ACO will be forced to juggle the rules around again to make the petrol cars competitive.

[Luca Brasi]

That's terrible. Makes LMP1 even more dreary.

[JonnyFive]

So is it only Audi left in LMP1?

[Turbobanana]

Veeayt said:

Finally we'll be watching Le Mans without diesel duel. Great news!

Better to have a Diesel Duel, as you call it, than err..., no duel?

[Altrezia]

JonnyFive said:

So is it only Audi left in LMP1?

not by a long way.

[Waugh-terfall]

Wow, wasn't expecting that! McNish is going to get very, very bored this year...

ETA: does this include the WRC?

Edited by Waugh-terfall on Wednesday 18th January 16:21

[Henry Fiddleton]

Shame, the LMP1 cars are/were beasts when seen in the flesh. (Not a fan until I saw them for real).

[goron59]

Oh dear
Going to miss them, and not really much of a challenge for the Audis, unless they fanny around with the regs to make them uncompetitive.

[Northern Munkee]

davepoth said:

This is, perversely, good news. With only one (non French) diesel team there's no spectacle any more, so the ACO will be forced to juggle the rules around again to make the petrol cars competitive.

That's sort of what I'm wondering, although to be seen as a serious governing body, I can't see them changing the rules for this year, unless of course Audi are interested, I suppose it would be too much to hope Baretzky has a petrol hybrid that hanging around, and whether Audi board would be game... Make a good film.

(I know I can dream)