Peugeot at Monza : Real determination, enthusiasm and ambition!

While the Tour de France is thrilling millions of French fans at the beginning of July, endurance fans will have their eyes set on Monza at the end of the week. The Peugeot 9X8 will make its competitive debut at the 6 Hours of Monza, the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship.   The famous Autodromo di Monza had already hosted the debut of the 908 HDi FAP in April 2007. Forty years ago, another prototype powered by Peugeot was racing on the world endurance scene in the temple of speed. At that time, we were talking about Esso-WM. The golden era of the Gr C has given way to the Hypercar category, which is being heralded as the new golden era of the discipline.

For its return to the top class, Peugeot has chosen the LMH formula, which allows the prototype to be designed from A to Z. After the missed appointment in 2012 for the launch of the WEC, and then the announcement without any follow-up of a partnership with Rebellion, the french brand will be able to roar on the track against the competition. 

Over the past six months, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has conducted an intense programme of tests at a variety of circuits across Europe in preparation for this first competitive appearance. In recent weeks, the team has been meticulously refining its road map. This has been split into two core phases: the first took the form of simulator sessions at Peugeot’s Satory base, near Paris, enabling the team to evaluate and finalise its energy-management mapping for Monza as the drivers got to grips – virtually – with the circuit’s unique characteristics and demands. This was followed by one final physical track test at MotorLand Aragón in Spain, where the 9X8 clocked up its 15,000th kilometre of running, thereby achieving Team Peugeot TotalEnergies’ pre-Monza target.

Paul Di Resta, Mikkel Jensen and Jean-Eric Vergne will share the wheel of the #93 with Gauthier Bouteiller as car engineer. Bouteiller, who started out at Hexis Racing before continuing his successful career with various teams, will be in charge of the #93. The #94 will be entrusted to Loïc Duval, Gustavo Menezes and James Rossiter. The trio will be able to rely on the great experience of Brice Gaillardon, Romain Dumas' companion in his wildest projects.   We won't lie to ourselves, the first objective of the two 9X8s will be to accumulate experience while waiting for 2023, the first full season in the WEC.

Olivier Jansonnie (Technical Director, Peugeot Sport): “Following an extensive and necessary period of testing and development, covering thousands of kilometres at a number of different circuits, the Peugeot 9X8, its drivers and the team are now ready to take on the next challenge: managing the exacting requirements and demands of a full race weekend in direct competition with our rivals, while learning about the behaviour of our car in traffic and how to handle the different safety procedures. Our strategy for Monza is very simple: to give the best of ourselves at all times, with a humble yet confident approach. Our objective is clear – to learn as much as possible about every aspect of the 9X8 in a competitive environment. It goes without saying that we are keen to see how we compare with the other teams and cars, but above all we are looking forward to gathering the kind of data and information that can only be gleaned by going racing.”  

Jean Marc Finot (Director, Stellantis Motorsport): “The Peugeot 9X8’s competitive debut marks the culmination of the first stage of our mission. We have built a team and an LMH Hypercar based entirely upon Team Peugeot TotalEnergies’ cutting-edge technology and expertise, in order to tackle both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours. Monza represents the beginning of a new era in endurance racing for Peugeot Sport and our objective is to fight for victories while demonstrating the excellence of Peugeot’s electrification technology. In Italy this weekend, we will be taking on a field of competitors who have extensive experience in the category, so we remain realistic about the challenge we face, but we are driven by real determination, enthusiasm and ambition!”