my last photo of the Peugeot 908 at the 2011 24h of Le Mans

menos

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When I heard the news today, I was quite shocked, that Peugeot decided, to not compete in this years endurance races with their works team, including the greatest race in the world - the Le Mans 24h.

I have been looking forward to the fight of the big three works teams in this years Le Mans edition - now it looks, that this frame of last years Peugeot works racer will be the last one with my Leica, of a Peugeot 908, racing in anger :(

I am sad - feel free, to cheer me up!


Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 - 2011 Le Mans 24h - color version by teknopunk.com, on Flickr

Last years winning car has been this Audi R18 TDI:

L9997432-Audi%20Sport%20Team%20Joest%20-%20Audi%20R18%20TDI%20-%202011%20Le%20Mans%2024h.jpg


… both shots with M9 and 135 APO-Telyt.

Today's blog post about the sad news: http://www.teknopunk.com/en/Blog/Blog.html
 
Nice as always Dirk. I was bummed to see them pull out as well. We lost Audi and Porsche here in the states last year for ALMS, bummer. I was hoping to see the Peugeots at some point @ Laguna, they were scheduled to come last year but pulled out of the event.
 
dirk,

i was a bit surprized about the news, but to cheer you up, i can tell that as far as i know, the le mans race will still take place.

also, you should consider looking into motorcycle endurance races (there is an event in le mans, too ..). and finally, there are other great motorsports with appeal to photography, like WRC.

cheers,
sebastian
 
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So no privateers running Peugeot? Surly someone will buy them up to run,provided P will sell them.
 
These are amazing photographs, especially given they're on the M9.

Thanks Kevin ;-)
People always think, this must be difficult, but actually the opposite is the fact … I find shooting the Leica M a lot easier and quicker than a DSLR.
I also still shoot a Nikon D3 with long, fast tele lenses for motor sports, but much prefer, to just pack two Leica bodies and a handful of lenses.


Nice as always Dirk. I was bummed to see them pull out as well. We lost Audi and Porsche here in the states last year for ALMS, bummer. I was hoping to see the Peugeots at some point @ Laguna, they were scheduled to come last year but pulled out of the event.

Thanks Kent!
I really couldn't believe, when I saw it and choked on my breakfast the moment, I read the news.
In my mind, Peugeot was a fixed asset to Le Mans now, but they are gone!
We had a tiny bit of good news though, that Porsche is planned to return … wait … in 2015 :bang:

dirk,

i was a bit surprized about the news, but to cheer you up, i can tell that as far as i know, the le mans race will still take place.

also, you should consider looking into motorcycle endurance races (there is an event in le mans, too ..). and finally, there are other great motorsports with appeal to photography, like WRC.

cheers,
sebastian

Hey Sebastian, I will certainly go to Le Mans for the race (once, you were there, you can't miss it again).
Surprisingly, as I am a total motor sports addict, my interest in bikes is rather low. Would I have the chance with an all entry pass, to shoot a 24h bike race, that would be an all different thing to do, getting me very enthusiastic ;-)

Perfect panning shots, Dirk, congrats!

Haha, Andrea … there is no such thing as perfect, one can always improve.
Too bad, Le Mans is only once a year, so my improvement cycle is rather slow on this one ;)

2011 was my second year, only shooting Leica M @ Le Mans and I couldn't enjoy it more!

That is a lot different than the Peugeot I had in college.

Hehe - Peugeot came a long way with it's motor sports program, but has been a strong contender in endurance racing, it's latest breed, the diesel powered 908 being very dominant.

Audi certainly won not because of speed, but good old German reliability and a bit of luck after the horrific crashes, that happened to two of the three cars, while car no 2 survived … and won 2011.

Did I say, I love Le Mans?

Cool shots of beautiful cars.

Thanks Will!

Well done Dirk. Perfect panning.

Thank you Eirik!

I am actually experimenting with one of those Telemore teleconverters, if I can modify it, so it precisely can be focussing the 135 APO-Telyt.
I am quite curious, but won't give the Telemore converters a good chance (to be honest, they seem, to be as cr… , as people say).

So no privateers running Peugeot? Surly someone will buy them up to run,provided P will sell them.

It is said, that Peugeot tried to sell it's 2011 program, but nobody bid so far.
It's not very surprising though, as we are at end of January and most teams have spent already the biggest piece of their budget, to prepare for 2012.

Peugeot is a bit late to pull out, which is why it is so surprising!

Does the latest development have some connection to the loss of the AAA rating of France with banks not giving credits as freely in their panic reaction, so Peugeot decided, to cut cost short, easing liquidity and financial costs?

In any way, I fear, we will not see a full hearted try of running the new evolution of the Peugeot in Le Mans :(
The Peugeot works effort was a warranty, to take the Audi serious, making at least for a real two contender race.

I have high hopes for Toyota, they certainly have deserved a win at Le Mans with their last program, but pulled out, to dabble half hearted and confused into F1 with massive resources and no management to match.

They belong to endurance sportscar racing - good luck to them!
 
Dirk- This move also explains why Sebastien Bourdais is back in Indycar full time (Peugeot driver).

Yes unfortunately he had not much luck in Europe with his racing efforts :-(
I was quite hyped, when he started to race in F1, but then never got around well.

What is Alex Wurz doing? he is a big number in sportscar racing - heard, he is heading to the US as well?
 
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