Peugeot’s new hybrid 908 is destined to make its only journey straight to the company’s museum, a casualty of the recession

A group of Peugeot Sport engineers and mechanics had barely touched down in the United States on Wednesday, on their way to a test session at the Sebring circuit, when they were given the news that the company was pulling out of this year’s Le Mans 24-hour race and of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship as a whole, with immediate effect. So their new car, a hybrid 908 intended to challenge similar vehicles from Audi and Toyota, is destined to make its only journey straight to the company’s museum.

This is a great shame for the technicians and the drivers who were looking forward to a challenging season and hoping to repeat the team’s Le Mans victories of 1992, 1993 and 2009. A disappointment, too, for the hundreds of thousands who make their way to the historic circuit of the Sarthe each June, many of them wanting to support a home team.

But it was always thus in motor racing, and particularly in endurance racing. Le Mans, an event founded in 1923 as a way of showing potential customers that your headlamps, windscreen wipers and canvas hoods could function at high speed around the clock, remains an effective shop window for major motor manufacturers. But those companies are at the whim of the global economic climate and the wishes of investors who may have no interest in the sport, paying attention only to the bottom line of the annual balance sheet.

After the Bentleys had dominated Le Mans in the 1920s, during the first decade of the race, it must have been a disappointment to their fans to see them depart. Ditto the Alfa Romeos and Bugattis that took over in the 1930s. Jaguar’s four wins in the 1950s were followed by a withdrawal, while Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin had to be content with a single win apiece before bowing out. Ferrari and Ford divided the spoils in the 1960s and were seen no more; the same with Matra in the early 1970s. Porsche took over for the remainder of the decade, their victories continuing throughout the 1980s and sporadically during the 1990s.

Ten wins for Audi’s R8 and R18 models in the past 12 years, interrupted by single victories for a car in Bentley’s colours (itself based on the Audi) and for Peugeot’s diesel-engined 908, represent the sort of hegemony that can intimidate rivals. There will always be the suspicion that the Peugeot board’s decision might have been different had their team followed up that last success two years ago, but they seem to have folded their tents not through the fear of enduring an invidious comparison between their hybrid technology and that of their German and Japanese rivals but because of a worldwide recession that calls into question the spending of many tens of millions of euros on a nonessential activity.

So the Peugeot 908 has gone the way of the supercharged Bentley, the Alfa 8C, the Bugatti Type 57 “Tank”, the Mercedes 300SLR, the Jaguar D-Type and XJR, the Aston DBR1, the original Ferrari Testa Rossa, the Ford GT40, the Porsche 917 and 956, the Matra MS670, the Sauber C9, the Mazda 787 and the Williams-designed BMW V12 LMR. Not a bad museum to be in. And Le Mans, of course, will carry on as it always has, not just a monument to its own tradition but a proving ground for worthwhile new technologies.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk

• Former Jordan technical director joins as analyst
• Changes forced after several members joined Sky

The BBC has unveiled a new-look Formula One presenting team for the 2012 season following the series of defections to Sky Sports.

The former Jordan technical director Gary Anderson joins as a technical analyst; Ben Edwards joins as a commentator, having previously worked for Eurosport; James Allen will become the lead commentator for Radio 5 live, and Jennie Gow is the pitlane reporter.

Jake Humphrey remains in place as the anchor, along with the chief analyst Eddie Jordan and co-commentator David Coulthard.

The changes were forced after several of last season’s line-up were poached by Sky to front its coverage, including Martin Brundle and David Croft.

The BBC’s head of Formula One, Ben Gallop, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ben, James, Gary and Jennie to the BBC presentation team. They bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge, and huge passion for the sport which will help bring the season to life for our audiences on TV, radio and online.”

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk

• McLaren take up option of third year with Button
• ‘Jenson will be with us next year,’ says team principal

McLaren’s team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, has confirmed that Jenson Button will be with the team next season.

Following the Belgian Grand Prix just under a fortnight ago, Button urged Whitmarsh to finally take up the option on his contract for 2012 given his desire to remain with the Woking-based marque.

At the time Button said: “All he [Whitmarsh] has to do is say yes, and I will say yes because I want to be here next year.

“It’s up to the team as to when they approach me, but for me I’m the happiest I’ve been with the car.”

Whitmarsh has now confirmed the 31-year-old will see out the final year of the three-year deal he signed at the end of 2009 following his title-winning campaign with Brawn GP. Whitmarsh said: “Jenson will be with us next year. Full stop. There is nothing that needs to be sorted, he will be with us next year.”

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• Webber ignored instructions during British Grand Prix
• Australian says he has had ‘positive’ talks over new deal

Mark Webber has insisted Sunday’s team orders saga will have no bearing on his future as he is already in “positive” talks with Red Bull regarding a new contract.

Webber ignored repeated instructions to maintain a gap to team-mate Sebastian Vettel over the closing laps of the British Grand Prix, prompting showdown talks with the team principal, Christian Horner. The situation raised speculation as to whether Webber would remain with the team, only for the owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, to yesterday state the 34-year-old Australian would be signed again for 2012.

As far as Webber is concerned, he told BBC Sport: “The team and I are talking about whether I continue with Red Bull in 2012 and it’s positive. What happened on Sunday does not turn my world upside down.”

Webber, who was forced to settle for third behind Vettel and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso at Silverstone, says he has cleared the air with Horner and has no regrets over his course of action.

“Christian and I had a chat about the situation after the race,” said Webber. “We both put our cases forward and I think we came away seeing it from both perspectives. It was obviously a difficult situation, but I still feel comfortable about what I did.

“In that situation, you are hit by conflicting emotions. You want to improve your position, irrespective of who it is in front of you – especially when it is someone at Sebastian’s level, whom you have to work pretty hard to get back on to.”

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk

• Article 39.1 prohibiting team orders deleted at WMSC meeting
• Plans to make Formula One engines greener unveiled

The FIA has removed the regulation banning team orders from its rulebook following this year’s controversy at the German grand prix, which led to Ferrari being fined £65,000 by race stewards.

After coded messages over the team radio Felipe Massa ceded a potential victory to his team-mate, Fernando Alonso, a move that sparked outrage at the time. After meeting the stewards Ferrari were deemed in breach of article 39.1 of the FIA 2010 sporting regulations that states “team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited”. But following today’s meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Monaco, the sport’s governing body said the rule has now been deleted.

A WMSC statement read: “Teams will be reminded [that] any actions liable to bring the sport into disrepute are dealt with under article 151c of the International Sporting Code and any other relevant provisions.” Article 151c is effectively the FIA’s catch-all regulation that relates to “any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally”. It was a rule that resulted in McLaren being fined almost £50m in 2007 over the spying scandal.

The omission of the team orders regulation headlines a raft of other changes that have been made for 2011. The WMSC has approved amendments to the list of penalties stewards are permitted to apply, made revisions to driving and driver conduct, reintroduced intermediate tyres for 2011 and stipulated that gearboxes must be used for five consecutive races rather than the current four.

They have also introduced a regulation that allows the race director, Charlie Whiting, to close the pit lane during a race for safety reasons, as well as providing a clarification on when cars may overtake the safety car.

The FIA also confirmed its intention to introduce radical new engine regulations from 2013 that will ensure the sport becomes far more environmentally friendly.

Following dialogue with the four engine manufacturers – Ferrari, Renault, Mercedes and Cosworth – the powerplants will be 1.6-litre, four-cylinder units with high-pressure fuel injection, and with a maximum 12,000rpm. The quartet now have 27 months to deliver the new powerplants that will replace the current 2.4-litre V8s.

VW/Audi, who had apparently been awaiting today’s announcement with some interest, may also now come into the reckoning as an engine supplier in light of the FIA’s forward-thinking plans.

According to the FIA, the new engines will deliver a 35% reduction in fuel consumption and will feature extensive energy management and recovery systems, yet maintaining current levels of performance.

From next year F1 is already due to see the re-introduction of Kers (kinetic energy recovery system), a device that stores energy from braking and converts it into power used to boost acceleration.

According to motor sport’s world governing body, the announcement “underlines the FIA’s commitment to improving sustainability and addressing the needs of the automotive industry”.

In a further move to cut engine costs, from 2013 drivers will only be allowed to use five engines per season – the limit is currently eight – with that figure cut to four from 2014.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk

• German says: ‘I am definitely driving for Virgin Racing’
• Decision on second driver due before Christmas

The German Formula One driver Timo Glock has dismissed speculation that he could leave Virgin Racing.

“I am definitely driving for Virgin Racing,” he told the team’s website. “There has been a lot of speculation about me wanting to leave the team but it is not about leaving a team, it is about wanting to do better and keep moving forward. It is not just 99.9% certain that I will stay, as has been reported – it is 100% certain that I am staying.”

Glock joined Virgin from Toyota, who quit Formula One at the end of 2009, on a long-term contract. He said then that he wanted to help the new team build for the future. Virgin finished their first championship season in 12th and last place, without a point. They have since signed a new title sponsor, the Russian sportscar maker Marussia.

“I think with everything we have learned this year we can take a very good step up next season,” said the 28-year-old Glock. “This is a great team of people who have given blood, sweat and tears to our first season. Some people haven’t seen that with their own eyes like I have, so it’s easy to criticise or be cynical.”

Glock’s team-mate this year was the Brazilian Lucas di Grassi. Glock said he expected an announcement on the second seat before Christmas.

“I think it is right to take our time and make sure we have the best combination of youth and experience, plus make sure we have the best information going back into the team at testing and races to ensure we can develop as quickly as we want to and keep moving forward,” he said.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk

• Japanese driver Yamamoto partner Bruno Senna for Hispania
• ‘Karun Chandhok is still part of the Hispania Racing’

The Indian Formula One driver Karun Chandhok has been dropped for next week’s German grand prix, his Hispania team said today.

“After Sakon Yamamoto gave a very positive performance in Silverstone, the team has decided to give the Japanese driver another opportunity to drive the car alongside Bruno Senna,” they said in a statement.

“Karun Chandhok is still part of the Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team family and is likely to be in the car at some later races this season.”

The 26-year-old Chandhok began his career in Formula One this season following three years in GP2. He started 10 races for Hispania, finishing in 14th place in Bahrain and Montreal.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk

• 1997 world champion may return as owner, driver – or both
• Hispania team’s financial struggles may free up place

Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, has submitted an entry for Villeneuve Racing to become the 13th team on the Formula One grid next season, although it is unclear whether the 39-year-old Canadian intends to return to the sport as a driver, an owner, or possibly even both.

Villeneuve’s entry has cleared all the technical and financial checks imposed by the FIA and he must now wait to see if his entry is accepted. There are believed to be two other teams in contention to join the world championship next season, the American Cypher Group and Joan Villadelprat’s Spanish Epsilon Euskadi operation.

“I’ve never made it a secret that I’m working hard on an F1 project,” Villeneuve told the BBC. “But I’ve not discussed the details or what my plans were and I won’t be drawn on it now. I’m not commenting.”

Villeneuve walked away from Formula One midway through the 2006 season. Since then he has been attempting to race in the Nascar series in North America but his efforts have been stymied by lack of sponsorship. “There is an element of truth in the [F1] rumours,” said Villeneuve’s manager, Rick Gorne. “It’s a project we’re working on.”

Villeneuve, whose father Gilles was killed in a Ferrari during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian grand prix, was a successful single-seater racer before he joined Formula One in 1996 as Damon Hill’s team-mate at Williams. He won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and that year’s IndyCar title, but his F1 career fizzled out after he won 11 grands prix in his first two seasons.

Jack Brabham is the only driver to have won the world championship in a car bearing his own name in 1960, and the only other owner-driver to have won a grand prix is Bruce McLaren, although many have tried.

What might aid Villeneuve’s path back to Formula One are the increasing rumours that the Hispania team are experiencing financial difficulties and that there may be places available for two new teams. The FIA is expected to announce the identity of the successful applicant next month.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk