Rebellion to cease motorsport activity after current WEC season

Rebellion Racing will end its motorsport-related activities following the conclusion of the 2019-2020 World Endurance Championship season as part of a company-wide review into its marketing strategy.

The announcement, which will see Rebellion bring to an end a 13-year spell competing in motorsport, came following a strategic committee meeting. It means that this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans - the 2019-20 WEC season finale - on June 13-14 will be the last event it competes in.

The Swiss squad, which currently sits third in the 2019-20 WEC LMP1 standings, won the 2011 Le Mans Series, finished third overall at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans and claimed its first overall WEC race win at Silverstone in 2018. It took another victory from pole position at the 4 Hours of Shanghai in November last year.

Rebellion has decided to cease its motorsport operation prior to the the new Hypercar class being introduced to WEC from the 2020-2021 season.

A statement said Rebellion “will eventually turn its attention to other challenges with the desire to but its rebellious DNA at the heart of its implications”.

Rebellion president Alexandre Pesci, said: “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.”

Calim Boudhadra, CEO of Rebellion corporation, added: “The Rebellion corporation rand 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.”