Peugeot ends Le Mans programme with immediate effect

Plex · Last edited by Plex on Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:15 pm; edited 5 times in total

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.

Autosport

Plex · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:51 am Post subject:

Davidson says Peugeot exit a big blow for World Endurance Championship

Peugeot LMP1 prototype driver Anthony Davidson says the French manufacturer's shock withdrawal from front-line sportscar racing is a huge 'blow' to the FIA's new World Endurance Championship.

Peugeot announced on Wednesday that it was cancelling its endurance prototype programme with immediate effect - on the same day as the entry deadline for the new WEC.

Prototype sportscar racing was granted world status for by the FIA World Council last autumn after a 20-year hiatus, and had been expected to become a huge battle for global title honours between turbo-diesel LMP1 manufacturer teams from Audi and Peugeot.

The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours is also to be the scene of Toyota's return in factory guise with a hybrid prototype coupe.

"It was such a disappointment to hear the news today," Davidson told AUTOSPORT. "I'm devastated for the Peugeot team and everybody that has worked so hard over the last two years."

The Briton, who scored three victories for Peugeot in 2011 and took more pole positions (three) than any other driver in the team last year, added: "It's a real blow for the World Endurance Championship and the fans who were looking forward to another tremendous battle between three manufacturers."

AUTOSPORT understands that the current Euro-zone crisis was a key factor in Peugeot's decision, with France having recently also suffered a credit rating downgrade.

PSA - Peugeot's parent company - also announced last week that it suffered a 6.1 per cent decline in sales over the past year in Europe and expected that trend to continue this year.

Peugeot's Sport department has not been closed as part of today's announced changes - which according to the company have been made to ensure the successful launch of its new 208 and hybrid road car ranges – and it is understood that the door has been left open to future racing programmes should funds once again become available in 2013.

Autosport

Plex · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:02 am Post subject:

Peugeot brings down the curtain on its endurance programme so as to ensure the success of its numerous launches in 2012.

After 14 victories in the last 16 races, including a double at the Le Mans 24 Hours 2009 as part of the ILMC championship won by Peugeot two years running, in 2010 and 2011, the Brand has decided to close its 2012 endurance programme and will not be taking part in the next Le Mans 24 Hours.

This decision has been taken against the backdrop of the challenging economic environment in

Europe coupled with a particularly busy year for the Brand in terms of new vehicle launches. In this context, Peugeot prefers to concentrate its 2012 resources on its commercial performance and, in particular, ensuring the successful launches of the 208, 3008 HYbrid4, 508 RXH, 508 HYbrid4 and

4008 which will take forward the Brand's strategy of moving upmarket and extending its global presence.

In keeping with its social responsibility obligations and as part of the GPEC (forward management of jobs and skills) agreement, all of the employees concerned will be offered redeployment solutions within the Group thanks to a special system set up to oversee and lead occupational training/retraining as well as internal mobility.

Press contacts

www.peugeot-pressepro.com

MG Man · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:43 pm Post subject:

sad

_________________

I know it's so, for I told me so

Plex · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:54 pm Post subject:

The consequences of Peugeot's withdrawal from endurance racing

Yesterday's announcement of Peugeot's immediate stoppage of its endurance programme was a real shock.

The board of Peugeot, located at 75 Grande Armée in Paris, took the decision to stop the company's involvement in endurance racing with immediate effect. According to the press release, the decision has been taken against the backdrop of the challenging economic environment in Europe.

The French car manufacturer also wants to concentrate its 2012 resources on its commercial performance and, in particular, ensuring the successful launches of several new models which will take forward the brand's strategy of moving upmarket and extending its global presence.

Auto123.com Thursday talked to a veteran of the Peugeot Sport race team.

“No one saw that one coming. Not at all. Yesterday, we got a message to gather all together at 4 p.m. And we were told the bad news,” he said.

One hour later, the official press release was posted on the web.

“This decision is quite hard to understand. Just after Christmas we restarted the manufacturing of parts process and we had just received the 2012 tubs. The test team was down in Sebring, Florida to do some testing when they got the news. Now, they're getting prepared to fly back here in Velizy,” our man told us.

“This week, we were deciding if we were going to enter three or four 908s at Le Mans, and how many of these cars would be hybrids. The news was a shock – a major blow on our heads. We will offered redeployment solutions within the company and internal mobility, but the worst part is that we will lose more than one hundred of very qualified and highly skilled persons. The situation is really dramatic for our younger mechanics and technicians. We're going to lose everything. If Peugeot ever wants to go back racing, they will have to build everything from scratch,” he added.

Our man confirmed us that Peugeot does not want to see the 908s being entered and raced by privateers. “No. Peugeot does not want to see a single 908 leave the factory. One private team has already offered Peugeot to race our cars, but it got a definite no as an answer. It's all over. Period.” he said.

Meanwhile, Gpupdate.net wrote Thursday morning that Craig Pollock and PURE are considering using Peugeot Sport's facilities located near Paris at 3 rue Marcel-Dassault in Vélizy to serve as a base for their F1 turbo engine programme.

However, this building is not only the home of Peugeot's endurance programme but also where the clients and rally departments are housed.

Auto123

Plex · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:44 am Post subject:

Plex · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:52 am Post subject:

Plex · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:11 am Post subject:

Le Mans: Peugeot says withdrawal from international motorsport only temporary

Peugeot's 908 LMP1 sports-car program was axed ahead of the closing date for entries for the new FIA World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours last week, but the company has stressed that it is not the end for its Peugeot Sport facility near Paris.

A spokesman for Automobiles Peugeot said that it was the company's intention to return to motorsport, most likely in the WEC, possibly as early as 2013.

“This should be and must be a temporary compromise,” the spokesman said. “I cannot say that we will not be in the WEC next season. We will try to be back in motorsport next year. Maybe 2013 is a little too early, but we are definitely not closing the door.”

Peugeot opted not to push into a sixth season of sports-car racing after a poor sales year in key markets in 2011. It decided to cut the 908 turbodiesel program in favor of concentrating its resources on the launch of a number of new models, including hybrid versions of its 3008 hatchback and the 508 family car.

The company had planned to race the second-generation 908 turbodiesel in hybrid form in this year's WEC. The 908 HYbrid4 has been testing on track since October.

A swift return to sports-car racing or any other form of motorsport could be problematic because Peugeot plans to reallocate staff away from Peugeot Sport. It is understood that the resources, human and financial, will not be made available to continue development the hybrid version of the 908. The remaining staff at Peugeot Sport will focus on its customer racing programs.

The decision for Peugeot to halt its sports-car program was made on the morning of the closing date for entries for the WEC and Le Mans on Jan. 18 at an extraordinary board meeting. Peugeot Sport was preparing for the 2012 season, and two 2011 908s were in the United States ahead of a planned test at the Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway.

The LMP1 pullout brings to an end more than a quarter of a century of continuous top-line motorsport activity by Peugeot, starting with the 205 T16 Group B rally car in 1984. Peugeot Sport subsequently competed in the rally-raid arena, Group C sports cars, Formula One, touring cars and rallying again before returning to Le Mans with the original 908 HDi turbodiesel in 2007.

Autoweek

Plex · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:02 am Post subject:

Plex · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:56 am Post subject:

The Veliziy Tsunami

http://www.vif-argent.fr/lmr/#/20/zoomed