Peugeot to Push On with WEC Program Despite Rebellion Exit

Peugeot has affirmed that it will continue to develop its top-level prototype for the FIA World Endurance Championship despite Rebellion’s recent exit from motorsport.

The French manufacturer announced a technical partnership with Rebellion in December but the collaboration was ended by the Swiss company’s decision to withdraw from racing after this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Peugeot will continue to work with its partner Total ahead of its return to top-level endurance racing in two years’ time.

“We are currently in the early stage of building up our WEC technical project and we acknowledge Rebellion’s decision that appoints us in a direction to modify the configuration of our operational system by 2022,” said Groupe PSA Motorsport director Jean-Marc Finot.

“Their decision to withdraw does not change Peugeot’s program in endurance.

“We continue working with enthusiasm in a configuration refocused with our partner Total, to design a race car that will be a source of pride for Peugeot and that will be perfectly aligned with its energetic transition.”

When Peugeot’s return to endurance racing was confirmed last November it announced that it would be entering with a Le Mans Hypercar, however the word ‘Hypercar’ was omitted from its latest statement concerning Rebellion’s exit.

The brand has yet to comment on the recently-announced LMDh common platform, which will enable manufacturers to compete in both WEC and IMSA’s top classes.

French LMP2 constructor ORECA, which is known to have been in discussions with Peugeot about its WEC project, confirmed last month that it would abandon its Hypercar plans in favor of concentrating on building a base chassis for LMDh.