Peugeot to pull out of Le Mans

GravyMonster · 18 Jan 2012 at 15:21

They've just officially announced it, effective immediately. Reasoning is apparently due to money.

AutoSport said:
"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."

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

In better news Toyota will have an LMP1 car entered in a couple of races this year, ready for a full season next year, and Porsche will have an LMP1 car ready for 2014.

Skeeter · 18 Jan 2012 at 15:39

After being comprehensively whooped (in terms of speed) by Audi last year at Le Mans this isn't a surprise.

It is however, a massive shame. LMP1 will just go back to a dag dag Audi snore fest again

I've not been following the ACO's changes to the Le Mans regulations, but wasn't there plans to merge LMP1 and LMP2 into a single category?

Lt_Red · 18 Jan 2012 at 16:10

I guess that puts And Davidson out of a job. Except SKY's F1 coverage of course.

agentjohn88 · 18 Jan 2012 at 22:58

That is a shame!

Any word on Nissan and Mazda making a return, there were rumurs a while back if i remember?

Shimmy · 18 Jan 2012 at 23:01

Lt_Red said:
I guess that puts And Davidson out of a job. Except SKY's F1 coverage of course.

Good news for me, I really like his coverage.

Gaijin · 19 Jan 2012 at 00:07

Shame.

Although I'll be concentrating on how my mate's car does - first year in and all:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96891

TehBluebear · 19 Jan 2012 at 08:49

I'm keeping an eye out for Toyota, but apparently they're going hybrid :confused:

Lets hope they're not plauged with problems this time around. Be interesting to see if they're using the same engines that Toyota Motorsport GMbH were supplying to Rebellion Racing.

Apparently Nissan are coming back in, but I only heard that from a mate of a mate kinda thing, whether there's any truth in it I don't know.

GingerNinja1989 · 19 Jan 2012 at 22:00

Gayjin said:
Shame.

Although I'll be concentrating on how my mate's car does - first year in and all:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96891

Any word on their GT1 programme?

Kerming · 19 Jan 2012 at 22:42

GingerNinja1989 said:
Any word on their GT1 programme?

after a long chat at the autosport show last weekend, the team want to keep the gt1 program allive but the future is unknown, the team are fully behind the project however the FIA french noob has killed the championship. Their focus from now on will mainly be on the GT3 car which they have already sold to 5 teams, one of the teams has bought 2 cars, so atleast the GT3 championship is allive and well.......

Is it me, or does the new Toyota look a tad like a Peugeot? lol

joem1983 · 19 Jan 2012 at 22:57

I knew this. But seems a shame Audi will have it even if i'm not a massive Peugeot fan, far from in fact.
I thought pescarollo were having the 908s but apparently not.

Still going though. Should still be good fun! anyone else?

Skeeter · 19 Jan 2012 at 23:29

In that colour that Toyota doesn't look to far from the old GT One from the late 90s.

Anyone know the details of the hybrid-ness of if?

MissChief · 20 Jan 2012 at 02:38

Toyota's racing colours have always been red and white, hence the similarity between the two cars.

GravyMonster · 20 Jan 2012 at 09:22

Kerming said:
Is it me, or does the new Toyota look a tad like a Peugeot? lol

Toyota in 'completely copying someone elese car' shocker.

Gaijin · 20 Jan 2012 at 10:24

GingerNinja1989 said:
Any word on their GT1 programme?

As mentioned by Kerming, rule changes and sponsorship are the main barriers.

They'll probably just focus on LMP1 this year.

Kerming · 20 Jan 2012 at 22:37

Well its the lack of viewers and general public knowledge of the series which is the issue. Even back in the day when I first started watching, the only way I found out about the sport was through the silverstone website........there was nothing to change accept the lack of advertising to the general public. The point I am making is that to know about the series you have to be a fully fledged petrol head to know of its existance.