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Peugeot suspends its endurance racing program with immediate effect (63 posts)

Topic tags: Le Mans, peugeot, WEC

Viewing post 31 to 45 (63 total posts)

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Girts said 1 year, 4 months ago:

It’s a pity that Audi won’t have a serious rival anymore. However, if Peugeot will let private teams run their cars and if Audi won’t be issuing team orders then it’s not that bad. The situation will be similar to the one in WTCC now where nobody can really compete with the only factory team (Chevrolet) but it doesn’t mean that you don’t see fights for victories and a lot of exciting battles further behind.

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Keith Collantine said 1 year, 4 months ago:

@Girts

The situation will be similar to the one in WTCC now where nobody can really compete with the only factory team (Chevrolet)

That’s the most depressing thing I’ve read in a while. Though to Chevrolet’s credit at least they let their drivers race.

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Girts said 1 year, 4 months ago:

@KeithCollantine It sounds a bit depressing but there is a reasonable hope that things might change relatively soon. If Toyota and / or Porsche will hopefully match Audi at endurance racing in a couple of years, then Ford might be able to give Chevrolet a run for their money sooner or later, probably not this year though.

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Bendanarama said 1 year, 4 months ago:

That properly sucks, and whilst Le Mans itself should still be good, it’s neutered the LMP1 class for the WEC. Very dissapointing, especially given how close the great race was last year.

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topdowntoedown said 1 year, 4 months ago:

It’s a real shame, and if I was Jean Todt I’d be absolutely furious. They bring back the ‘endurance’ FIA World crown, and Peugeot just decide they can’t be bothered?

I was never a Peugeot fan – something about the way Audi went about Le Mans was more appealing to me. But this is an insult.

All the French complaining about a lack of a national team really should get behind Pescarolo now…

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Keith Collantine said 1 year, 4 months ago:

if I was Jean Todt I’d be absolutely furious

His comments so far have been quite restrained but given that Peugeot were keen to see the WEC happen I bet he’s pretty miffed.

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George said 1 year, 4 months ago:

Bummer, wonder where all their drivers are going to go?

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Fer no.65 said 1 year, 4 months ago:

@keithcollantine FIA needs to react quickly if they want to save the world championships, in my view.

WTCC is going really down: just Chevrolet as official team now.

WRC has been going down since 2004-2005, but at least they are trying to revive it: with VW planning to race next year, maybe we’ll have 4 manufacturers again for the first time since 2008.

And now Peugeout is quitting Le Mans: down with just 2 official teams again.

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matt90 said 1 year, 4 months ago:

I hear Audi will be making a decision of some kind about their future in the next month.

Not the best source, but;

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/peugeot-leaves-le-mans-2011-01-19?imageNo=1

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S.J.M said 1 year, 4 months ago:

I did wonder about Audi, although it might just allow them to run a less-costly LMP1 team as there wont be as much competition (raising it for Le Man ofc). Will the quit too? I hope not, if they did I imagine it will be next year or possibly 2014 making way for Porsche.

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Bendanarama said 1 year, 4 months ago:

You know what? maybe it would be good if Audi did quit, at least for this year. Without the two factory teams, the other LMP1 entries might be a bit more competitive. Just a thought, really, I just don’t want to see an uncompetitive race for First place.

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matt90 said 1 year, 4 months ago:

I suppose it would likely make it more competitive. But I like the idea of a deserving car winning, rather than one that wouldn’t have been competitive even a couple of years ago. Perhaps if Oreca or Pescarolo run 908s it could remain competitive if Audi stay.

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Bendanarama said 1 year, 4 months ago:

That would be preferable, I’d just rather not see the Audi’s running in what would essentially be a class of One (LMP1+ maybe?) when we could have a more competitive race. the 1-2-3 in 2010 was special because they fought off the peugeots. Having one potentially handed to them on a plate would just be a bit… rubbish.

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S.J.M said 1 year, 4 months ago:

Im not sure that in its inaugural season, that the WEC needs either or both of the 2 top factory backed teams stepping away before the red lights even turn off. With Audi staying it would be pretty much certain Audi win. But they are a big draw, and have a fan base still, but also something for future/would-be rivals to look at from outside and want to beat. The WEC needs to be doing its best to draw in those companies and keep/enlarge its fanbase. I *really* want the WEC to work and be a hit, it wont ever be as big as F1 but it can be a good alternative to watch, which things like A1 was or [current] WRC could be.

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Joel Holland said 1 year, 4 months ago:

Someone needs to buy that Peugeot LMP – that’s a potentially Le Mans-winning car sitting waiting to be raced. Potential for a WEC version of the Brawn story? I mean, if someone’s running that thing at Le Mans it’s going to be there or there abouts, which in a 24 hour is about all you can ask.

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