Peugeot Quits

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97080

Peugeot has announced that it will end its endurance racing programme with immediate effect.

The French manufacturer had been Audi's main rival in sportscar racing, running the variants of its diesel 908 prototype in the Le Mans 24 Hours and associated series since 2007.

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

Le Mans victory in 2009 was Peugeot's greatest success, while last year it won the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup title ahead of the series' transformation into the World Endurance Championship this year.

The decision to can the programme comes amid declining car sales for the Peugeot group, and will be a major blow to the formative WEC - which had been expected to see a season-long battle between Audi and Peugeot.

Toyota is embarking on a new LMP1 programme but will not contest a full campaign this year, while Porsche's new car will not hit the track until 2014.

What a shame! Can't blame 'em, though.

WHAT!!!!

Well, there goes anyone giving a crap about the WEC or Le Mans this year.

If Peugeot isn't there to battle, how long will Audi stay?

Oui oui, monsieur. At least they quit while they were ahead?

I read this title as 'Peugeot Quilts' and imagined I'd be able to choose one with a cool lion emblem and a LeMans graphic to drape over my bed.

Disappointing.

In reply to Maroon92:

Grand Am is the place to be at the moment.

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: In reply to Maroon92: Grand Am is the place to be at the moment.

Unless you are an ALMS GTE team. More entries expected this year from Mercedes, Lamborghini, and possibly Lexus. It's shaping up to be a great season.

LMP, on the other hand, will go nowhere. Will Audi even show up to Sebring?

Tom Heath wrote: Oui oui, monsieur. At least they quit while they were ahead?

They are French. They view the program as having underachieved. Sure they have won every single race they competed in since 2009 (barring one loss at Sebring and two losses at Le mans, 2010 and 2011), but they only have one Le Mans victory, and that's the most important race. They wanted to dominate on home soil.

Good thing SeaBass signed with Jay Penske for a full-time IndyCar season a few days ago. He was also trying to run most of the sportscar season for peugeot.

Alex Wurz also jumped ship to the new Toyota program. Good move on his part.

Weaksauce, why can't they just go into unsustainable debt like every other major car manufacturer?

This is what scares me about working for race teams. One day, everything is good and grand. Nexy day, BOOM out of a job.

I think there is much more of a future for manufactures to provide support for smaller race teams than for these huge factory supported teams.

As much as I like the advanced technology and associated R&D of LeMans teams, in the end I'd be happy if Ford gave me a discounted rate on Ford Performance Parts for being an SCCA Member as opposed to spend millions on a factory team.

Peugeot should consider helping out the little guys out there who still dreams of racing...despite losing their jobs.