A brief conversation with Peugeot Sport boss Bruno Famin in the Le Mans paddock this afternoon answered one of the most immediate questions on everybody’s lips here. Are Peugeot set to return to Le Mans with an LMP1 programme and if so on what timescale?
“There is no programme,” said Famin.
“Our Chief Executive made it clear that he would like to see Peugeot return at some point in the future and made it clear too that there were important conditions that needed to be met before that could be considered.
“The first was that the financial performance of the company had to improve dramatically. That has actually been achieved far quicker than almost anyone thought possible.
“The second was that the current level of expense involved in being competitive in LMP1 would have to be reduced very considerably and there is little sign of that happening in the near future.”
That point refers to budget levels from the major factory squads that are now well into nine figures for Audi and Porsche with little sign of the current technology-fuelled arms race reaching a plateau.
If, as is believed to be the case, BMW are working on fuel cell tech, then that too will be a driver for substantial spend from another potential future entry.
So, it seems, we’ll have to wait rather longer than some believe for a return to endurance racing from Peugeot.
Over to you ACO and FIA if there’s a will to see that picture change!
