Team Peugeot TotalEnergies will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, one of the most challenging and iconic racing events in the world, with two 2024 Peugeot 9X8s in the Hypercar class.
The French team, which has been preparing for the 1 Hours of Le Mans race for more than a year, aims to prove that the 24 Peugeot 2024X9 is one of the most superior cars in the Hypercar class by testing the reliability and durability of the car on two challenging tracks in the FIA World Endurance Championship. . In addition to its advanced powertrains, the 8 Peugeot 2024X9, which was completely renewed in terms of both body design and aerodynamic features, ranked 8th in the 6 Hours of Imola race and managed to enter the top 9 at SPA - Francorchamps.
Stating that Le Mans is a part of the Peugeot brand character, Stellantis Motorsport Senior Vice President Jean-Marc Finot said, “The enthusiasm we saw at Le Mans last year allowed us to see the strong feelings of the fans about Peugeot. This year we are coming on stage stronger than ever.” made his assessment.
Stating that the 2024 Peugeot 9X8 is a 90 percent new vehicle in terms of body, aerodynamics and powertrain systems, Peugeot Sport Technical Director Olivier Jansonnie said, “The entire production process, including the parts and equipment of our Hypercar prototype vehicle, took only 12 months. This was made possible with the contribution of everyone at Team PEUGEOT TotalEnergies. Our handling and performance gains in the races were largely in line with our expectations and what we observed in winter testing. However, we still need to continue to improve ourselves. “We finished Imola and SPA ahead of the faster cars with a perfect strategy and the hard work of everyone in the team,” he said.
Paul Di Resta, who will compete in the seat of the Peugeot 94X9 number 8, said: “I think the Hypercar class is completely built to race at Le Mans. This is a place where we can truly express ourselves and race at full speed. With the 2024 version of our vehicle, I think we can now compete with strong players. “I think the most important thing is to have a clean race.” he said.
Loïc Duval, who will share the seat of the 94 Peugeot 2024X9 number 8 with Paul Di Resta, said: “This race is special because Le Mans takes place only once a year. It's like a final, like a World Cup final, which everyone has been preparing for all year. It's also about the format: racing for 24 hours is a very different experience. "The race will not be easy because we still have a lot to learn compared to our rivals who have been racing the same car for a season or two." said.
Stoffel Vandoorne, the third pilot of car number 94, said: “Last year, I was Peugeot's reserve pilot at Le Mans. This year will be much different because I will drive the 2024 Peugeot 9X8. Before I started competing in an endurance race, I didn't realize how big this race was. With so many Hypercars on the track, it will be a 24-hour marathon where everyone will be pushing the limits until the end of the race. Of course, we will also be in the fight.” He included his words.
