There is every chance there won’t be any Pescarolo prototypes at Le Mans this year, as indicated by a communiqué published on Tuesday by Genii Capital.

Pescarolo Sport was taken over in January 2009 by Jean Py, president of the Sora Group, who succeeded from Henri Pescarolo at the team’s helm at the end of 2009. Financial difficulties then led to the French outfit calling on the services of Genii Capital with a view to contesting the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Genii Capital is a Luxemburg-based investment firm run by Eric Lux, an expert in new technologies, brand management and motor sport. On December 16, 2009, Genii Capital also purchased a significant share of the Renault F1 Team and Renault Drivers Development.

Despite reserving the two slots on the entry list to which Pescarolo Sport had a right this year, Genii Capital has decided not to go any further down this line.

In a communiqué released on Tuesday, Genii Capital reported that its negotiations with Pescarolo Sport had failed to come to fruition: “In spite of extensive discussions, the team has been unable to provide the necessary financial and operational guarantees and Genii Capital has therefore decided to step away from this project. Genii will nevertheless maintain a watching brief on endurance racing, and has not ruled out the possibility of entering this category in the medium term.”

Even so, Le Mans won’t be the same without Henri Pescarolo and his green-livered cars. After taking part in the event 33 times, and with four wins to his name, Henri formed his own team in 2000. In the space of 10 years, Pescarolo Sport won two Le Mans Series titles and finished just behind the works Audis at Le Mans on a number of occasions (fourth in 2000 and 2004; second in 2005, 2006 and 2007). The Pescarolo-Judd won its last race at Okayama (Japan) at the end of 2009.

24 Hours of Le Mans, Michelin, Pescarolo