Why Peugeot's pull-out was a bombshell
The world of sportscar racing was stunned by the news of Peugeot's decision to withdraw from Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship this week. Our sportscar guru Gary Watkins explains the ramifications of this massive blow to the sport
As far as bombshells go, this was a 12,000-pounder of an announcement.
Sure, there had been whisperings about cutbacks at Peugeot Sport, but for every rumour suggesting that it would run just two cars at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, there was another hinting at four.
Few of us doubted that the French manufacturer was going to build on its 2011 successes with the second-generation 908 and once again lock horns with Audi in the new FIA World Endurance Championship.
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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
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