[WEC] Peugeot exits Le Mans racing

[Acid09]

I've said this a bunch of times, they won't be back in 2014.

To be back on the grid in 2014 would require to start working on a new car sometime in 2013. If you plan to do that, you don't fire all the engineers and sell off the equipment a year before that.

Stop dreaming people. The way this was shut down ensured that this project couldn't simply be started back up quickly, the people responsible obviously wanted to rule out a quick revision of the decision.

The drivers are gone, the engineers are gone, the know-how is gone, even most of the hardware is gone. A new project would need to be started from scratch, requiring a lot of resources. If there had been any plans to start this back up, the shutdown would have been handled differently.

One of the rumors was that Quesnel was given the choice of either racing this year or building a new car for 2014. That's nonsense, none of what Peugeot did is any indication that they have plans to start this programme back up anytime soon.

I wouldn't be surprised if it takes another 15 years until we see Peugeot back, by then the company could be better off and the people who have killed this prorgamme for good might be gone as well.

[alexkiller8]

agree, usually when a manufacter retires at least 10 years must to go before the return, some example...

porsche 1998 - 2014 (speaking only about prototypes's work team)
toyota 1999 - 2012
AMR mid'80 - 2005 gt1 and 2008/2009 lmp1
bmw 1999 - 2009/2010

[Spyderman]

Porsche returned at the end of 2005 with the LMP2 RS Spyder. Not a LMP1 car, but a prototype none-the-less.

[alexkiller8]

yes i know, but none of those team was a work team

[CTD]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

agree, usually when a manufacter retires at least 10 years must to go before the return, some example...

porsche 1998 - 2014 (speaking only about prototypes's work team)
toyota 1999 - 2012
AMR mid'80 - 2005 gt1 and 2008/2009 lmp1
bmw 1999 - 2009/2010

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Porsche returned at the end of 2005 with the LMP2 RS Spyder. Not a LMP1 car, but a prototype none-the-less.

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

yes i know, but none of those team was a work team

In that sense. Audi quit in 2003 and returned in 2006. Thats only 3 years...

And to be fair, Porsche wanted a return in 2000, but wasn't allowed.

[alexkiller8]

well, let's say that during 2003-2006 audi promoted a huge customer program, but however the manufacter was supporting the teams.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

well, let's say that during 2003-2006 audi promoted a huge customer program, but however the manufacter was supporting the teams.

The exact same can be said about the RS Spyder program and the 911's.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

yes i know, but none of those team was a work team

It was a semi-works team.

[alexkiller8]

well, for the rs spyder manufacter support can be said only for penske team and a bit for cytosport in 2010 in ALMS. About 911, if you read i wrote
porsche 1998 - 2014 (speaking only about prototypes's work team)

the matter is only about le mans, teams like van merkstejin, essex and goh don't know how much were supported by the manufacter (need to say that in 2009 maassen was in goh lineup)

[CTD]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

well, for the rs spyder manufacter support can be said only for penske team and a bit for cytosport in 2010. About 911, if you read i wrote
porsche 1998 - 2014 (speaking only about prototypes's work team)

That only makes the RS Spyder, even more a manufactures program compared to the Audi support in 2003-2006.

This however is going off topic.
There isn't a "general" time frame a manufacture stays out of Sportscars. It has a lot to do with how the economy is, what other manufactures are competing, and what the regulations says.