In the competitive world of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), Peugeot’s spot seemed uncertain. The French automobile giant appeared on the brink of exiting the Hypercar era, a segment of the WEC overflowing with manufacturers. However, recent indicators suggest Peugeot is not only sticking around but also developing a new racing vehicle. The question that arises is why, and what is needed to get its WEC project on track?
Peugeot Sport had previously attributed the subpar performance of its 9X8 model – the one lacking a rear wing and equipped with 31cm-wide square tyres – to changes in the LMH tyre regulations. Jean-Marc Finot from Stellantis Motorsport shed light on this issue back in November 2023. He explained the initial regulations required hybrid LMHs to fit four 31cm-wide tyres. However, the rules changed at the end of 2021, allowing LMHs to opt for 29cm front and 34cm rear tyres. The switch came too late for Peugeot, as their vehicle had already been designed around a different wheel size and parts ordered.
Olivier Jansonnie, the project’s technical director, insisted that the car was optimized for its existing tyre size. He emphasized that the tyre size choice impacts everything from weight distribution to aerodynamic distribution. This is why the 9X8 lacked a rear wing. However, the car’s reliance on aerodynamic downforce from its underfloor for traction meant it had to be kept at the lowest possible ride height, a challenging necessity on bumpy tracks.
In addition to these issues, the 9X8 was plagued by a significant traction problem and a mechanical grip deficit. These issues were primarily attributed to a 6cm difference in the tread on the rear axle compared to its rivals. The car’s performance suffered, especially in traffic and coming out of corners. Despite the Balance of Performance (BoP) measures, the 9X8 couldn’t match its competitors, which led Peugeot Sport engineers to reconsider their strategy.
For the 2024 season, Peugeot decided to abandon the 31/31 tyres, adopting the 29/34 size like its rivals. Additionally, they added a rear wing to the design. However, the revamped ‘9X8 2.0’ failed to deliver significantly improved results, with just one podium finish at the 8 Hours of Bahrain. Even this accomplishment was largely due to strategic ingenuity and the disqualification of the Ferrari 499P. The poor performance has led to the labelling of the project as a failure.
Despite these setbacks, Peugeot seems determined to continue with its Hypercar programme, driven by the will of its parent company, Stellantis. The initial plan was to continue with Peugeot until the end of 2026 before transitioning to Alfa Romeo, another brand owned by Stellantis. However, recent indications suggest that Stellantis might be rethinking this plan, possibly due to Peugeot’s superior car sales compared to Alfa Romeo.
The current regulations limit a car manufacturer to a maximum of two cars during the nine championship seasons from January 2021 until December 2029. They also have five Evo Jokers available between 2021 and 2027, then two in 2028 and 2029. However, Peugeot has reportedly used up its second homologation and all five of its Evo Jokers by 2023. As such, the 9X8 can’t be modified in any way until 2028, leaving Peugeot in a tricky situation.
Peugeot now faces the challenge of convincing the FIA and the ACO to grant it more flexibility. A potential solution could be a revision of the LMH and LMDh technical regulations. This could include offering manufacturers additional Evo Jokers or a third homologation, which would enable Peugeot to design a new car for 2027.
Peugeot has remained tight-lipped about these developments, only affirming its commitment to the programme which has been confirmed internally until the end of 2026. The French automaker is determined to clinch its fourth victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans following its wins in 1992, 1993, and 2009. To realize this dream, it needs a new car, and the world eagerly awaits its next move.