Peugeot TotalEnergies Team Ready To Make Debut This Weekend In Monza!

Italy’s famed Temple of Speed ​​is where it all began for the Peugeot 908 in April 2007, with a victorious debut in the LMP1 category at the 1,000 km (621 miles) of Monza. A decade and a half later, the iconic track will similarly provide the backdrop for the Peugeot 9X8’s racing arc in the Le Mans Hypercar class of the 6 Hours of Monza on Sunday, July 10th, 2022.

The all-new Peugeot 9X8 is the program’s all-new hybrid-electric hypercar, designed with four-wheel-drive, and equipped with a hybrid power unit (twin-turbocharged 2.6-liter V6) producing 500 kW (670 horsepower) and two electric motors on the front axle delivering 200 kW (268 horsepower) with a high-voltage 900-volt battery.

Over the past 6 months, the Peugeot TotalEnergies team has carried out an intense testing program on a variety of circuits across Europe in preparation for this first competitive appearance. In recent weeks, the team has been meticulously refining its roadmap. This has been divided into two core phases: the first took the form of simulator sessions at Peugeot’s satoria base near Paris, allowing the team to assess and finalize its energy management mapping for Monza as the drivers became virtually familiar with the unique characteristics and demands of the circuit. This was followed by a final physical track test at MotorLand Aragón in Spain, where the 9X8 clocked its 15,000th race kilometer, thus achieving the Peugeot TotalEnergies Team’s pre-Monza target.

Over the course of this test, an intensive 36-hour endurance race was completed, testing the team’s two regatta teams (drivers, engineers, and mechanics) as they fixed the race processes firmly in the minds of the women and men responsible for managing the two Peugeot 9X8s that will race under numbers #93 and #94.

Paul Di Resta, Mikkel Jensen and Jean-Eric Vergne will join in entry #93, designed by Gauthier Bouteiller. For its part, #94 brings together James Rossiter, Gustavo Menezes, and Loïc Duval, with Brice Gaillardon fulfilling the role of race engineer.     

Group Challenge – 

Peugeot Sport is ready to write a new chapter in its illustrious endurance racing history, following the previous successes of the 905 and 908.

Although the ultimate goal remains the same, victory, this sports program is like never before, since it is based on the most innovative work practices and tools in the history of the brand, which represents an important technological challenge and underlines Peugeot’s commitment to the energy transition.

In the space of just a year and a half, a new car, the Peugeot 9X8, and the racing team have been assembled alongside a demanding program of preparation and testing both on the racetracks and in the workshop. Now, they are ready to see how they stack up in a competitive environment, against other prototypes and other teams that have more experience in the discipline.

Now it’s time for the test and simulation work to give way to the real thing. The races will come thick and fast for a team that has grown stronger and stronger in recent months, with every member of the Peugeot TotalEnergies Team eager to discover or rediscover the adrenaline rush of competition. These races will enable the team to gather a wealth of vital information which, in turn, will play a key role in the continued development of the Peugeot 9X8 and the pursuit of performance and efficiency in preparation for the team’s long-term goal of the 2023 season and its participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“After an extensive and necessary period of testing and development, covering thousands of kilometers on several different circuits, the Peugeot 9X8, its drivers, and the team are ready to take on the next challenge: managing the demanding requirements and demands of a weekend of full race in direct competition with our rivals while learning about the behavior of our car and how to handle the different safety procedures,” said Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport. “Our strategy for Monza is very simple: give our best at all times, with a humble but confident approach. Our goal is clear: learn as much as possible about every aspect of the 9X8 in a competitive environment. Needless to say, we can’t wait to see how we compare to the other teams and cars.”

“The competitive debut of the Peugeot 9X8 marks the culmination of the first stage of our mission,” stated Jean-Marc Finot Director, Stellantis Motorsport. “We have built a team and an LMH Hypercar based entirely on Team Peugeot TotalEnergies’ cutting-edge technology and experience, in order to tackle both the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Monza represents the beginning of a new era in endurance racing for Peugeot Sport and our goal is to fight for victories while demonstrating the excellence of Peugeot’s electrification technology. In Italy this weekend, we will be up against 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!”

6 Hours Of Monza Schedule – 

• July 8th: Free Practice 1, 15:30 CET
• July 9th: Free Practice 2, 09:00 CET; Free Practice 3, 13:00 CET; Classification, 17:30 CET and 17:50 CET.
• July 10th: Track Parade (with the new Peugeot 408) at 11:45 CET, race start at 12:00 CET.