Reigning Le Mans 24 hour winners Peugeot will focus their attention on building a new prototype for 2011 and are unlikely to compete in the new ACO Intercontinental Cup.

The Cup which will combine the Sebring 1000 race, The Petite Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the Asian Le Mans series race has already attracted the interest of Peugeot’s great rival Audi, but the French manufacturer has more pressing commitments.

Speaking to the British publication “Autosport” Peugeot Sport boss Olivier Quesnel said that Peugeot was unlikely to have any factory presence in 2010 after the Le Mans 24 Hours.

“The Intercontinental Cup is a good idea, but we can’t do everything.” he said.

Mr Quesnel said that Peugeot had two main objectives for 2010 “to do our best with the current car at Le Mans and to build a new car for 2011,”

In addition to it’s own 3 car team, the company will again field a fourth car at the Circuit de la Sarthe with Hugues de Chaunac’s Team Oreca group.

Team ORECA Matmut will run the 908 HDi FAP at Le Mans as well as in the 2010 Le Mans Series.

Last year, Pescarolo Sport ran a private 908 at Le Mans, but the car was destroyed in a major crash during the night while well in contention.

Peugeot’s commitment to building a new car to the 2011 regulations is good news for Sportscar racing. The company’s return to the track in 2007 reinvigorated the sport and it’s win at Le Mans in 2009 gave the race a huge boost after almost a solid decade of domination by Audi.

Audi will contest the Intercontinental Cup but as yet there has been no commitment to a new car for the 2011 regulations.