The wingless version of the Peugeot 9X8 made its final appearance in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) during Saturday’s Qatar 1812Km event at the Losail International Circuit. This iteration of the car will soon be replaced by a more conventional design starting from the Six Hours of Imola in April.
The race seemed promising for the #93 Peugeot, with a potential second-place finish in sight until Jean-Eric Vergne encountered trouble on the penultimate lap. The car ran out of fuel, causing Vergne to slow down significantly, ultimately coasting across the finish line using only hybrid power.
Despite his efforts, the car, co-driven by Mikkel Jensen and Nico Muller, was later disqualified from the results. It failed to return to the pits after the fuel issue and didn’t reach the parc ferme under its own power.
However, this setback didn’t dampen the spirits of the Peugeot team, with motorsport boss Jean-Marc Finot commending their efforts in securing a podium position.
Finot expressed satisfaction with the performance of the car, particularly highlighting its speed and competitiveness during the race. He attributed the unforeseen issue on the last lap to a miscalculation during the pit stop, where the team didn’t add the expected amount of fuel.
The Peugeot 9X8 was initially designed according to the LMH regulations, which were later adjusted to facilitate competition with LMDh cars. This prompted Peugeot to make revisions to the car, including changing to smaller wheels and adding a rear wing. These updates are set to debut at the WEC’s Imola event in April.
Finot drew parallels between Peugeot’s late-race trouble and Toyota’s experience at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2016, emphasizing the need to learn from such incidents. Despite this setback, Finot expressed confidence in the competitiveness of the revised 9X8 design.
Peugeot showcased improved performance during the Qatar event compared to previous races, benefiting from adjustments in Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations and the characteristics of the Losail circuit.
Finot noted the track’s layout, featuring long sweeping corners and smooth asphalt, as conducive to the strengths of the Peugeot 9X8. He credited the BoP changes and the track’s configuration for the team’s enhanced performance during the race.
