In 2012, Peugeot, one of the dominant brands of the World Endurance Championshipannounced the immediate farewell of his career program due to the economic crisis. Peugeot won 14 of the 16 previous races and the two previous ILMC championship titles, now the World Resistance Championship (WEC).. A giant is leaving. And now, After 12 years, the lion company competed again in front of its people in the race of their hearts: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The French brand has decided to return at the end of 2022 with sights set on its return to Le Mans in 2023, with a complete program for this year that will allow them to arrive ready for their return to La Sarthe. His goal is to win, but it is a goal for the future. In its first course, the lion company had to lower its bar and think about the finish of both cars: they did it, and also, beyond any expectation. Peugeot led the race with the best speed in the wet conditions and a good strategy. Only one exit from the track at 3 o’clock in the morning deprived the Peugeot #94 of staying in the fight for victory or the podium at Le Mans, something that would have been historic, holding the pulse of Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac and Porsche.
It is true that Ferrari also returned to Le Mans and managed to win in its first year. But the two projects are not comparable. Ferrari is back with AF Corse. Peugeot did it alone. That means there is a car completely designed by Peugeot and a team completely created by Peugeot. And with this new ‘lion’, with a surprising and innovative concept and an aggressive and very striking appearance, Peugeot managed to lead the race with consistency and determination.
The Peugeot shined in the wet and on approach
No. took the lead. 94 Peugeot 9X8 of Nico Müller, Gustavo Menezes and Loïc Duval at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will last more than 4 hours thanks to the French car’s excellent performance when it starts to rain. Towards the end of the night, the French team was again in the lead with a good rhythm and seemed to be fully involved in the fight, but finally, at the eleventh hour of the race, Gustavo Menezes was surprised and crashed into the guardrails at the 1st chicane. of Les Hunaudieres. However, the car was able to continue and the #93 car, driven by Jean-Eric Vergne, Mikkel Jensen and Paul Di Resta, remained in the thick of the battle for the Top-5.
Finally, both cars had to pit in the final three hours with hydraulic problems. The Peugeot was just two and a half hours away from achieving a Top-5 finish which Vergne assured in the preview that it was “like a victory”. And in the end, #94 had to return to the pits at the end of the appointment.
Both cars crossed the finish line and it was a complete success, but above all, it was a great demonstration of Peugeot’s ambitionwho have a very good strategy and are able to keep their cars in the top positions for many hours despite not having the fastest car every lap.
“We have evolved”
“As competitors, we can’t be satisfied with qualifying because our first car finished 8th. But what lies behind the numbers is above all a great event and a great commitment from the team. Race after race, we will see that we improve and this 24 Hours of Le Mans is another step in our performance,” said Jean-Marc Finot, Senior VP Stellantis Motorsportand it is that the Peugeot team started the course with many mechanical problems at Sebring, on a very wet asphalt, and managed to get out of that initial hole until showing itself in front of its public for many time at Le Mans.
“We fought the top teams and even led for more than 4 hours. It was a very intense moment of sharing within the team and an emotional moment for all those who love the Peugeot brand. Also, we have to face racing incidents, although not all of us can avoid them,” added Finot.
“In terms of reliability, we have made a lot of progress since Sebring. However, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a very demanding race and we still have a lot to do. PBut we are very proud to bring our cars to the finish in our first Hypercars race.”he added.
“Our joy reflects the work of a full year, or more, by all the people who promoted this program. We came close and we paid for it with a bold racing strategy and a big commitment from the team.”commented for his part Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director Peugeot Sport.
“Of course, if you watched the last three hours, you will see the commitment of the team to keep the cars in the race. In the end, very tired and very happy. The level of preparation we have when we come to the test day is more higher than a six-hour race. That’s what drives our preparation for what’s to come. It’s an incredible race, both emotionally and sportingly,” added Olivier Jansonnie.
The Peugeot project has just begun. A good starting point for the French firm, who are looking to return to the top of the World Resistance Championship as soon as possible.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
