- Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has entered two PEUGEOT 9X8 2024 Hypercars for the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
- The target is to have maximum reliability and showcase the performance gains made on the PEUGEOT 9X8 2024
- Twenty-three prototypes are set to compete in the elite Hypercar category and more than 320,000 fans are expected during the madness that is “Le Mans week”
After last year’s Centenary edition drew a record crowd of 325,000 fans, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a sell-out once again this year, as tickets for the 2024 event were snapped up in just a few days last November.
Let’s face it, racing enthusiasts have every reason to come: with twenty-three prototypes and nine prestigious car manufacturers competing in the elite Hypercar class, they can expect plenty of action on the Circuit de la Sarthe – the 24 Hour-race track – the longest (13.626km) and the fastest (average speed in excess of 240 km/h) circuit on the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar.
“Le Mans is hardwired in the DNA of the PEUGEOT brand. The memories and emotions felt at this iconic event stretch across the generations,” maintained Jean-Marc Finot, Stellantis Motorsport Senior VP. “The enthusiasm we saw at Le Mans in 2023 showed just how strongly the fans feel about PEUGEOT.
We come back this year more determined than ever. The team has worked tirelessly for over a year in order to make it to the starting grid on 15 June. This year’s race will be historic in terms of the size and quality of the field. It’s something that is truly unique in the history of racing and the PEUGEOT brand is incredibly proud to be a part of it! The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a unique human adventure,” added Jean-Marc Finot.
Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has entered two 2024 versions of the PEUGEOT 9X8 in the race. It intends to showcase the car’s reliability and the performance gains made by this radically changed Hypercar, which made its competitive début at the 6 Hours of Imola in early April, after just ten months of development.
“We are really pleased that we managed to run this car for the first time at Imola,” admitted Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot Sport Technical Director. “Developing a Hypercar prototype, 90% of which is new in terms of bodywork, aerodynamics and powertrain, in just ten months – with all the production lead-times for parts and tooling – is a genuinely impressive achievement, made possible by the contribution by everyone at Team Peugeot TotalEnergies.”
On its competitive début, the PEUGEOT 9X8 2024 secured the team’s first WEC manufacturers’ points of the season with ninth place at the 6 Hours of Imola. Three weeks later, the PEUGEOT 9X8 2024 scored another top-ten finish at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, despite coming up against some very formidable competition.
“The in-race handling and performance gains were very much in line with our expectations and what we observed during winter testing,” confirmed Olivier Jansonnie. “There is no doubt we still need to improve, however. With around twenty Hypercars on the track, we have seen how close it is in the midfield and how the tiniest detail can make all the difference. At Imola and Spa, we finished ahead of quicker cars by having an excellent strategy and through the hard work of everyone in the team. We maximised the outcome if you look at the performance of the car, even if we didn’t really get the result we were hoping for.”
“Historically, Le Mans is a one-off race,” explained Olivier Jansonnie. “There’s the car, of course – its speed and reliability – but it’s also about team preparation, race strategy, etc. Our preparations began in July 2023 after thoroughly debriefing the 91st edition, looking at what worked well, where we could improve and so on. Last year was our first time back at Le Mans in a long time and this year, we’ll definitely be better prepared.”
The weather was very changeable in 2023 and Team Peugeot TotalEnergies managed to make the most of the tricky conditions. The no.94 PEUGEOT 9X8 led the race for 34 laps in the middle of the night and both cars made it across the finishing line of the world’s greatest race.
“We’re not thinking about a target in terms of result,” insisted Olivier Jansonnie. “Our only focus is on trying to ensure the race goes as smoothly as possible and that we see maximum reliability. We’ll have a clearer idea of where we stand as regards performance after the Test day and we’ll adapt our approach to the race accordingly.”
The Test day is due to be held on Sunday 9 June. Teams and drivers will have six hours of track time to get their bearings (again) on the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans (13.626km). Three free practice sessions and qualifying will be held on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June, followed by the Hyperpole contested by the top eight Hypercars. The 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be officially started on Saturday 15 June at 4pm by 1998 World Cup winner, Zinédine Zidane.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a huge motorsport party that brings together fans, families and racing enthusiasts from all horizons. PEUGEOT hopes that this event will be a great sporting festival. PEUGEOT’s Fan Zone will provide fans with a place to meet up, follow the race, enjoy the party and dance to DJ sets. It will be an opportunity for fans to come together and share an enjoyable, relaxing experience cheering on PEUGEOT.
