The new Peugeot 9X8 endurance racing car was unveiled in Portimao, southern Portugal, less than a year after the idea was shown and five months after the vehicle's first test on the track. In July, it will make its racing debut in the fourth round of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship at Monza, Italy, with an all-wheel-drive, hybrid-electric hypercar. The Peugeot countdown has begun.
It will be a new era in endurance racing when Peugeot makes its way to Italy on July 10 for the 6 Hours of Monza. The Peugeot 9X8 hypercar follows in the footsteps of the Peugeot 905, and Peugeot 908 wins at Le Mans with a fresh design for the FIA WEC.
The ACO and FIA Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) category, which is more accessible than the LMP1 but just as competitive, requires this powerful hypercar, instantly visible owing to the lack of a rear wing. This model shows the cat-like lines, a minimalistic silhouette, and Peugeot's iconic three-clawed light signature. Peugeot's hypercar is a shining example of the brand's technological expertise and devotion to perfection in hybridization and electrification. Both in terms of the company's competition and its customers. Peugeot has pursued this ambitious project focusing on design, passion for motorsport, and technological superiority. There will be an emphasis on Le Mans, a race that has few peers when it comes to testing and verifying new ideas and technology. It intends to signal the lion brand's return to endurance racing.
Prototype for four-wheel-drive racing, the Peugeot 9X8, has a powertrain designed by Peugeot Sport experts. An electric motor with a maximum output of 200 kW drives the vehicle's front wheels, while the back wheels are guided by the combustion engine's output of 520 kW. With Marelli's help, the silicon carbide-based inverter was created. In collaboration with TotalEnergies/SAFT, a 900-volt high-capacity battery was designed for the vehicle in question. In addition, Michelin offers tires that meet the hypercar class specifications.
There is a sporty design to the Peugeot 9X8 4.995 meters long. Yet, despite its tiny stature, it can contain up to 90 gallons of 100% renewable TotalEnergies' Excellium Racing 100 fuel in its tank.
Powerful and attractive, this model is the product of a partnership between the Peugeot design team led by Matthias Hossann and the Peugeot Sport team led by Olivier Jansonnie. The Peugeot 9X8 concept car was presented in July 2021, and many thought removing the rear wing would be problematic in practice. However, Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport, has continued along this route because of the interpretation of the ACO/FIA LMH regulations. As a result of testing on various circuits (Portimo, Le Castellet/France, MotorLand Aragón/Spanish, and Barcelona/Spain) since December, this disruptive idea has been proven. Before the final test at Portimo, a racing car was unveiled that resembled the concept car that would be unveiled in 2021.
For 25 days, the Peugeot 9X8 was driven more than 10,000 kilometers. Concurrently, the car received FIA homologation. After that, Peugeot Sport Engine Director François Coudrain's team focused on powertrain development in the simulator and on the track.
These critical steps in upgrading the hypercar's durability and performance delayed its competitive debut until after the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours. So on July 10, 2022, the Peugeot 9X8 will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the first time at the 6 Hours of Monza in Italy.
The Peugeot TotalEnergies team has linked up with a wide selection of worldwide partners, all of whom are well regarded in their respective fields, to offer excellence both on and off the track.
For example, Capgemini and Peugeot Sport collaborate to improve the efficiency of the Peugeot 9X8's energy management during acceleration and regenerative phases.
When it comes to creating synergies, Peugeot Sport and Modex have merged their ideas, creativity, and love for cutting-edge technology to benefit one another.
The official team uniforms of the Peugeot TotalEnergies squad are made by the Danish firm Jack Jones, with safety gear provided by the iconic Italian racing apparel manufacturer Sparco.
A shared love for motorsport, innovation, and advancement motivate all of the company's partners.
Le Mans Hybrid (LMH) and Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMdH) teams will fight against the Peugeot TotalEnergies team in the 100th edition of the 24-hour race in 2023, which will be held in France. This year's race will be a standout in the eyes of many long-distance athletes.
The Peugeot 9X8 will not be at Le Mans in 2022, but the brand will still be on hand to engage with fans both before and after the race. In addition, there will be an exhibition called "ALLURE-LE MANS" dedicated to Peugeot's unique and successful history in La Sarthe, opening on May 21, 2022, at the Circuit Museum in partnership with the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest). The Peugeot 9X8 in its original form will be on exhibit until September.
The Peugeot 9X8 will have its section in the fan camp for the 2022 event, open to racegoers. The Jack Jones team's official gear is available for purchase in the on-site store. In addition, kryptonite cocktails inspired by the new Peugeot Sport color signature are available for fans to enjoy.
Paul Di Resta (GBR), Loc Duval (FRA), Mikkel Jensen (DNK), Gustavo Menezes (USA/BRA), James Rossiter (GBR), and Jean-Éric Vergne (FRA) have been chosen as the two crews for the 6 Hours of Monza on July 10 (FRA). The two trios will be revealed as soon as the pre-competitive testing phase is complete, and their exact makeup will be determined. The two Peugeot 9X8s will next race in the September 6 Hours of Fuji in Japan and the November 8 Hours of Bahrain. @via Car Division.
