165 replies to this topic

[RF1 fan]

Peugeot has suspended its activities in sportscar racing.

http://www.autohebdo...ete-l-endurance

[jrg19]

So no Le mans entry?

[DevilDare]

Wow...

Extremely sad.

Edited by DevilDare, 18 January 2012 - 15:14.

[Andy35]

Not surprised

http://www.autocar.c...AllCars/260956/

" The French PSA group had a bad year: Peugeot (fifth) fell 9.4 per cent to 911,703 and Citroen (sixth) fell eight per cent to 770,726 units."

Meanwhile VW and Audi had good year.

Andy

[Victor_RO]

So no Le mans entry?

No, full pull-out, so no WEC, no Le Mans, nothing.

Major bummer. Think we can crown Audi as 2012 WEC champions with a 1-2-3 at Le Mans already.

[Philzippy]

"Jan 18 (Reuters) - French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen said it would withdraw from Le Mans 24-Hour endurance racing before the 2012 season, citing financial reasons."

[ed24f1]

Really disappointing, it was looking like a brilliant opening year for the WEC and this takes the shine off it a little bit.

[Jambo]

Very disappointing. Will we see the cars as private entries I wonder.

[OSX]

Whoa! Didn't see this one coming. A damn shame...

[OSX]

Peugeot Exits Le Mans Racing, Citing Finances
18 January 2012

(Reuters) - French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen said it would withdraw from Le Mans 24-Hour endurance racing before the 2012 season, citing financial reasons.

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

http://www.reuters.c...WEA853020120118

[SonnyViceR]

Horrible, horrible day for sportscar fans and ACO most of all!!!!

[jrg19]

Crazy news! Pretty shocked

[artista]

So, have they quit just the 24 hours or all the endurance? I can't open the autohebdo link.

[jonpollak]

No wonder SeaBass signed with the Penske Jr Indycar team.
Jp

[Afterburner]

I wonder if it had anything to do with France's recent debt downgrade. Sad news.

[dau]

Very sad news. Wonder if Audi will still take part in the 24h now with no real competition left.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

I wonder if it had anything to do with France's recent debt downgrade. Sad news.

I doubt that, it was a few days ago, by just 1 company, they're not the only company who decides credit ratings. Unfortunately it now looks like Audi's only chance of not getting a 1-2-3 at Le Mans, and winning the WEC, is crashes and technical problems.

[David1976]

Well that takes the shine off both Le Mans and the WEC.

We can only hope that Porsche rushes out it's 2013 contender at some point during the year.

[ed24f1]

Very sad news. Wonder if Audi will still take part in the 24h now with no real competition left.

How about Toyota?

With ORECA running the team, and doubts as to whether the petrol/diesel rule balance is fair, they could well give Audi a challenge.

[Option1]

Damn that is a shame! I make no secret of being an Audi fan, but I want to see more competitors in sports car racing, not fewer. The rivalry that had developed between Peugeot and Audi was a good thing.

When is the Toyota entry into le Mans due? This year or next? Either way, I really don't see Toyota being a serious challenger in it's first year.

Neil

Edited by Option1, 18 January 2012 - 15:36.

[SonnyViceR]

How about Toyota?

With ORECA running the team, and doubts as to whether the petrol/diesel rule balance is fair, they could well give Audi a challenge.

Yes but they probably won't challenge them this year, it's a brand new car and they are only debuting it on Spa 1000km. They also have Kaz Nakajima on board who will surely crash it frequently

Edited by SonnyViceR, 18 January 2012 - 15:36.

[OSX]

Very sad news. Wonder if Audi will still take part in the 24h now with no real competition left.

Hush. Don't give them any ideas...

[stewie]

I suppose this means Antony Davidson will now do all the Sky F1 races...

[wewantourdarbyback]

Very sad news. Wonder if Audi will still take part in the 24h now with no real competition left.

Toyota just starting, Nissan and Honda ramping up their efforts and looking like full factory involvement soon, Porsche confirmed return in 2014 and Jaguar probably coming back, I don't think they'll be too concerned.

[SonnyViceR]

Toyota just starting, Nissan and Honda ramping up their efforts and looking like full factory involvement soon, Porsche confirmed return in 2014 and Jaguar probably coming back, I don't think they'll be too concerned.

True but for 2012 it's not looking very happy

On the positive note the petrol class just got more interesting, now there's at least a slim chance for Rebellion or whoever to end up on overall podium!

Edited by SonnyViceR, 18 January 2012 - 15:40.

[tkulla]

Stupid decision. Just like when Honda pulled out of F1, they failed to see the big picture.

If I worked for Peugeot, I would be very proud of the company's racing activities. It's a source of pride for every worker, not matter what their role. Maybe scale it back a bit to save money and keep in line with cuts elsewhere in the company, but if I was the CEO I'd talk about who we are as a car company (passionate, competitive, never-give-up types) to rally the troops in a time of need. Killing a successful program is akin to scampering off with your talk between your legs.

As a car buyer, I know that I don't look at Honda the same way as I used to - they were a high tech company that made cars for those of us who like to drive and appreciate engineering. Now Honda Civic is just an expensive small car that's a bit on the mediocre side. There's no passion, no spirit, no fight for me to admire. Culture matters, and right now Honda doesn't have "it" anymore.

[Amphicar]

So, have they quit just the 24 hours or all the endurance? I can't open the autohebdo link.

The whole programme: http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/97080

[OSX]

Peugeot Ends Le Mans Programme with Immediate Effect
18 January 2012



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.

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

[Victor_RO]

Another rather symbolic implication of this pull-out: during this WEC season, including Le Mans, there will be no car to carry race number #1, since Peugeot were ILMC champions last year and they would have had the privilege of having #1 on one of their cars during this WEC season.

[D.M.N.]

Sad news.

[Amphicar]

As Renault's sales fell the same amount as Peugeot & Citroen, I wonder if the Renault F1 engine programme is also in danger. Will they quit once the current 2.4 lire V8 engines are redundant at the end of next year (or sooner)?

[pacificquay]

Renault already quit F1. They are an engine supplier only now, which is a profitable enterprise or at least break-even.

[Dispenser89]

Massive shame.

[Peat]

What a load of old balls. Stunned.

[fabr68]

Red Bull should sign in. Put some fenders and a cockpit in the RB7 and be done.

[Amphicar]

Renault already quit F1. They are an engine supplier only now, which is a profitable enterprise or at least break-even.

I was talking about the engine programme. The current 2.4 litre engine may have recovered its development costs but developing a new 1.6 V6 turbo programme won't be cheap.

Also, the catastrophic 20% fall in Honda's European sales must make a return to F1 as an engine supplier in 2014 even more doubtful.

Edited by Amphicar, 18 January 2012 - 16:08.

[Victor_RO]

Hopefully they'll be back in 2014 for the new regulations. Seems as if Quesnel was offered the choice of budget for 2012 or budget for development for 2014. I hope this pull-out means they took the second option rather than a third option of full shutdown.

https://twitter.com/#!/specutainment/st...666854003081216

[Owen]

Hope Rubens wasn't planning on signing up.

[Meanstreak]

Toyota just starting, Nissan and Honda ramping up their efforts and looking like full factory involvement soon, Porsche confirmed return in 2014 and Jaguar probably coming back, I don't think they'll be too concerned.

That's a bit optimistic view. Jaguar rumour died months ago when they denied it and little sense for a manufacturer to come in before 2014 (major rule changes). Toyota obviously will be a full season entry next year, and Honda could easily increase its involvement since they already have a good car but this is going to be pretty bleak start to the WEC. The category/sport can't rely on the same manufacturers forever but it feels like economy once again destroyed a lot of the momentum that was there (a la ALMS in 2008).

Edited by Meanstreak, 18 January 2012 - 16:20.

[Richard T]

This is such a shame. As a die hard Le Mans fan and a Peugeot supporter I'm very sad about this i dont know what to say really. I guess we will have to enjoy Le Mans 2012 as the spectacle it is rather than the amount of racing for victory...



Now pins hopes on Toyota and Porsche in 2013...

[SonnyViceR]

Toyota obviously will be a full season entry next year

Only partial I'm afraid, Spa+LM and some others. Well Fuji obviously

[wewantourdarbyback]

Only partial I'm afraid, Spa+LM and some others. Well Fuji obviously

He did say next year not this.

[artista]

Hopefully they'll be back in 2014 for the new regulations. Seems as if Quesnel was offered the choice of budget for 2012 or budget for development for 2014. I hope this pull-out means they took the second option rather than a third option of full shutdown.

https://twitter.com/#!/specutainment/st...666854003081216

Quesnel...

I trust him sooooo little. After the mess he managed to cause in the WRC team, I got pretty happy when it was announced PSA had taking him away from the rallying section

[MatsNorway]

Why Peugeot was in Le mans racing i have allways wondered. The most sporty car they have had the last year was 206 RC or something....

[Seanspeed]

Thats a hell of a lot of quality personel out on free agency now. I hope they got a good warning.

[Victor_RO]

This is such a shame. As a die hard Le Mans fan and a Peugeot supporter I'm very sad about this i dont know what to say really. I guess we will have to enjoy Le Mans 2012 as the spectacle it is rather than the amount of racing for victory...



Now pins hopes on Toyota and Porsche in 2013...

Porsche are only coming in in 2014.

And the amount of irony in posting the picture of the 2009 LM winner is a bit overwhelming, if maybe unintentional.

[SonnyViceR]

He did say next year not this.

I'm still living 2011, my bad.

[Richard T]

Porsche are only coming in in 2014.

And the amount of irony in posting the picture of the 2009 LM winner is a bit overwhelming, if maybe unintentional.

Sorry, my bad.. Unintentional... But it brings back good memories when you said it

[RF1 fan]

As Renault's sales fell the same amount as Peugeot & Citroen, I wonder if the Renault F1 engine programme is also in danger. Will they quit once the current 2.4 lire V8 engines are redundant at the end of next year (or sooner)?

Carlos Tavares is very happy with their f1 commitement.

http://news.autoplus...-Carlos-Tavares

" Elle coûte en investissement net un montant à deux chiffres (en millions d'euros). C'est un investissement qui est largement rentable ", affirme Carlos Tavarès à l'AFP. " Cela fait bien longtemps que j'ai abandonné l'idée de faire des calculs sur la rentabilité de la F1. "

He stopped wondering about profitability of their F1 program.

[pingu666]

I think they won every race apart from the big one last year too...
we might still have a good season, as the aco could just give the petrol cars a restrictor the size of a drain pipe