Rebellion Racing has decided to pull the plug on its racing acitivities beyond 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours as Peugeot states it will continue with its hypercar project.
Swiss outfit Rebellion Racing started its journey in 2008 but only made to full-time FIA World Endurance Championship’s grid’s LMP1 category from 2011 onward. The privateer team from then on featured in the class against the manufacturers for years.
The team has had a solid journey but in a surprise move, it has decided to stop its racing activities beyond this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours race as it will switch to other challenges with full desire and heart, instead of juggle between two things.
Rebellion Corporation President Alexandre Pesci stated: “Motorsport has been a great resource for REBELLION. The circuits have been exceptional showcases and an important sounding board for our Brand with a very wide audience.
“The returns on investment of these activities in the motorsports business have been more than satisfactory. We are giving ourselves time to redefine the contours of our business, but the effects of this decision will be immediate for the racing department as soon as the WEC season ends.
“These are not easy decisions to make and we are saddened that we will not be able to meet our past commitments for the years to come.” At the same time, CEO of Rebellion Corporation, Calim Boudhadra, added: “The REBELLION CORPORATION Brand strategy must change.
“The 24 Hours of Le Mans 2020 will be our last race and we will make it a point of honour to end the endurance adventure on a positive note and enrich an already excellent record of achievements. We would like to thank our partners for having trusted us and for having taken up so many challenges together with a rebellious spirit.
“As a private team, we are proud to have written a page in motorsport. I am convinced that the PEUGEOT Brand’s challenge in WEC will be a great success in the future, which I regret not being able to attend.”
Rebellion had announced a joint venture with Peugeot for WEC’s hypercar programme from 2021-22 onward. It will not go ahead as planned but the French manufacturer has confirmed that it will continue on its plans.
“We are currently in the early stage of building up our technical project & we acknowledge Rebellion’s decision that appoint us in a direction to modify the configuration of our operational system by 2022,” stated Peugeot.
“Their decision to withdraw does not change Peugeot‘s program in WEC. We continue working with enthusiasm in a configuration refocused with our partner Total Racing, to design a WEC race car that will be a source of pride for Peugeot and that will be perfectly alligned with its energetic transition.”
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