Financial woes force Peugeot to pull out of Le Mans

"This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe," the French carmaker said in a statement on the company website. "Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012."

Peugeot last won Le Mans in 2009, with their diesel cars finishing second, third, fourth and fifth.

Audi have won the race 10 times in the last 12 years.

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second-biggest car maker, is struggling to rein in costs and revive flagging sales after a series of profit warnings. In October, Chief Executive Philippe Varin announced plans to save an additional 800 million euros this year, including some 6,000 job cuts.

Jean Todt, president of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) who managed Peugeot's team when the carmaker won Le Mans in 1992 and 1993, was disappointed by the decision.

"To lose such a strong player like Peugeot is bad news, indicating what a tough period the automotive industry is going through, and this group in particular," he said in a statement.

"I believe that it is especially true that in tough times one should find ways of expressing full commitment, rather than pulling out.

"But we can only respect their choice and hope that they can come back soon at the highest level of motorsport."

While Peugeot will not have a works team at Le Mans, Toyota have already announced their return to the endurance classic after a 13-year absence.

The Japanese company, who finished runners-up to BMW in 1999, plans to compete in this year's 80th edition of the race with a petrol hybrid car.