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DAGYS: Au Revoir, Peugeot
A farewell to one of endurance racing's most successful factory squads...
John Dagys  |  Posted January 23, 2012   Chicago, IL
The all-dominant Peugeot factory squad pulled the plug on its 2012 sports car racing program last week. (Photo: John Dagys)
Last week’s news of Peugeot’s withdrawal from LMP1 competition undoubtedly sent shockwaves through the sports car racing world. The most successful factory prototype program of the new decade was gone, in what seemed like a blink of an eye.

Just days before the surprise announcement, it appeared to be business as usual for the French manufacturer, which had planned its first North American test of the year at Sebring. The team’s extravagant pit complex having already been set up and drivers en route, when word came from the executive level of PSA Peugeot Citroen that its FIA World Endurance Championship program was axed, with immediate effect.

There was no hiding Peugeot’s financial issues, a situation stemming from the ongoing European debt crisis. Late last year, when 5,000 PSA workers throughout Europe were laid off, questions arose over the future of its Le Mans program, where upwards of a rumored $100 million was injected annually into its big-buck factory effort.

That level of spending, in light of the current economic situation, undoubtedly came under fire, despite Peugeot’s near-impeccable track record over the past 24 months, winning nearly everything in its sight, except for the two races that mattered the most.

Peugeot returned to the endurance racing scene in 2007, taking on the all-dominant Audi squad with a diesel-powered creation of its own. Having made its debut at the 1000km of Monza, the Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP claimed the first of what was to be a remarkable 20 victories in 34 races for the first-generation, V12-powered prototype.

A clean sweep of Le Mans Series races that year, which led to the LMP1 championship as well as pole at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a runner-up finish, was followed by another dominant LMS season in 2008, with four wins out of five races, but ultimately losing out to Audi in the title race.
Despite being in financial woes, not many would have guessed Peugeot's final race would have been last year's Six Hours of Zhuhai in China. (Photo: John Dagys)

The French Lions fought back in 2009, with not only its first victory on U.S. soil in the rain-shortened Petit Le Mans, but a coveted win at Le Mans with drivers David Brabham, Alex Wurz and Marc Gene. It turned out to be Peugeot’s only triumph in five attempts in the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic.

Having gone on to win the inaugural three-race Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in 2010 and backing it up with the title in the full seven-round series last year, Peugeot clearly had set its mark above its German arch-rival. Despite ultra-close battles on track, it took home 14 wins out of its final 16 starts, including a surprise victory at the 2011 Twelve Hours of Sebring for Team ORECA Matmut, the last for the first-generation 908 HDi-FAP.

It was that intense Audi vs. Peugeot rivalry that helped kick start the ILMC, which has quickly transformed into the FIA World Endurance Championship, the first world sports car endurance championship in 20 years. Ironically, the WEC came at the request of the two factory giants, but now with only one set to embark on the globe-trotting championship that begins at Sebring in March.

While Toyota has stepped up to the LMP1 ranks with an all-new gasoline-hybrid, it’s only tabbed for a partial season, leaving a significant void in the premier prototype category that’s seen an epic two-horse race unfold over the last five years.

The inaugural WEC season may very well now be an Audi runaway, as the few well-equipped privateers will unlikely be able to mount a consistent challenge with their gasoline-powered contenders. It no doubt leaves questions over the long-term health of the championship, if Toyota or another manufacturer doesn’t step up to a full-time program in 2013.

Peugeot’s withdrawal has also been a huge loss on the driver front as well. With the likes of Anthony Davidson, Stephane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny now jobless, some of the most talented prototype racers of this decade could very well be on the sidelines this year, as the majority of entries have already been filled.

Others, such as Marino Franchitti and Lucas Di Grassi, who were both poised to join the factory squad this year, are left heartbroken after having likely been given career-defining rides and undoubtedly their best chance of victory in one of the world’s most prestigious auto races.

The endurance racing world will move on without Peugeot, but one could only hope the French Lions will return when the economic climate improves. If that’s 2013 or the following year, when a new wave of LMP1 regulations are introduced, is anyone’s guess at this point.

Goodbyes are always tough, but it’s fitting that the French saying “Au Revoir” translates to “Until we meet again.”

Thanks for the memories, Peugeot. Au Revoir.

PHOTOS: Peugeot 908 Retrospective



John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
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