Le Mans 24 Hour - Poverty-stricken Peugeot quit Le Mans
Former winners Peugeot will not enter this year's Le Mans 24 Hours race after announcing that they had pulled out of the new FIA world endurance championship for financial reasons.
"This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe," the French carmaker said in a statement on the company website. "Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012."
Peugeot last won Le Mans in 2009, with their diesel cars finishing second, third, fourth and fifth behind the number two Audi last year.
Audi have won the race 10 times in the last 12 years.
PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second-biggest car maker, is struggling to rein in costs and revive flagging sales after a series of profit warnings. In October, Chief Executive Philippe Varin announced plans to save an additional 800 million euros this year, including some 6,000 job cuts.
Jean Todt, president of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) who managed Peugeot's team when the carmaker won Le Mans in 1992 and 1993, was disappointed by the decision.
"To lose such a strong player like Peugeot is bad news, indicating what a tough period the automotive industry is going through, and this group in particular," he said in a statement.
"I believe that it is especially true that in tough times one should find ways of expressing full commitment, rather than pulling out.
"But we can only respect their choice and hope that they can come back soon at the highest level of motorsport."
While Peugeot will not have a works team at Le Mans, Toyota have already announced their return to the endurance classic after a 13-year absence.
The Japanese company, who finished runners-up to BMW in 1999, plans to compete in this year's 80th edition of the race with a petrol hybrid car.
Le Mans organisers and endurance championship promoters the Automobile Club de l'Ouest said in a statement it regretted Peugeot's departure but the race remained in good health.
Wednesday also marked the closing date for entries to both Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship and the ACO said it had received many applications, including from major manufacturers.
The list of competitors will be published on February 2.
"It is a big disappointment for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which begins in the year 2012; A competition created at the request of manufacturers in general and in particular Peugeot," said ACO President Jean-Claude Plassart.
"No doubt the hundreds of thousands of fans who flock to the 24 Hours of Le Mans each year and millions of viewers who follow will regret the absence of the Peugeot lions."
Comment 1 - 13 of 13
Audi is handicapped in 2012 with smaller fuel tanks and HP restrictors.
#10 , their cars are lemons. Pugs are ugly dogs and so are the cars. Citrons leave a bitter taste. Best if both were just relegated to stock car racing
Audi have lost their only credible opposition, the organisers will have to make petrol cars more competative.
Toyota will need about 3 years to develop their hybrid. I'm facinated by the Delta Wing Car project, but again it will require a few years to achieve it's full potenial ....(whatever it may be)
#4 - Yes i have a salt and pepper set from Peugeot and they are really good. Did you know that their parters Citroen, also grow lemon in France? I buy lots of them at the supermarket every time I go to France, trying to help finance their Rally team. It is a shame that even with their business diversification tehy still have to pull out of the greatest race.
Looking forward to another Audi Victory at LM can anyone stop them ?
Someone in Peugeot didn`t know the racing and winning always boost sales........... nonsence statement......
The Audis and Peugeots look like real LMP's, that is until they start racing. The low pitched hum as they lap is about as exciting watching big brother housemates sleep. They should even up the playing field so that petrol cars can compete, not only would they sound like real racing cars, but more manufacturers would be motivated to compete, and Le Mans might regain the prestige of yesteryear.
As much as I love the prototypes the best forms are down in the GT's...I just wish the field was stronger in this class as it seems to have demished in the last few years...
....as Peugeot, and Citroen are inextricably linked, will Citroen's motorsport business follow suit? As was pointed out the Audi has no competition, the fair thing to the other competitors would be to give Audi some ballast, and a 100cc engine to use...oh, and to start from the back..with the drivers handcuffed together...probably...
Did you know Peugeot make salt and pepper pots and they are very good quality and expensive they should make a few more and BISH BASH BOSH you have money to pump back into Le mans.
I was getting back into watching Le Mans since it wasn't just a case of how many of the top ten finishers were Audis.
Looks like I'll have to watch something else - maybe tennis or something.
Time for the ACO to ensure the petrol cars can be competitive or AUDI will walk it (accidents permitting), I will however still be there again this year - I love it regardless and teams will come and go, they always have done.
Not too long before the Porsche P1 car ?? maybe Ferrari to follow ??
bad news for le mans. unless the toyota is competetive it will be an audi white wash
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account