Peugeot Everyone notices him. Hypercar in 2023 WEC after its revolutionary design without rear spoiler. The French brand is looking for a fair distribution of weight between the front and rear but the performance is not as desired. For this reason, in his second full season in the World Endurance Championship after his return and With its new 9×8, which will see its debut at Imola on April 21, it will return to a more conventional aerodynamic concept where the goal is to take a step forward and fight for victories.
MD had the opportunity to attend one of the many tests they conduct prior to prototype approval. The Gauls held tests at Paul Ricard and at Portimao and indoors They traveled to Aragon to perform a 36-hour endurance test. There, MD witnessed how Peugeot moved around 30 mechanics and another 20 engineers, along with the starting drivers for this season, to closely follow developments. Just like he said Jean Marcot Finotdirector of Stellantis Motorsport, noted that they “took a step forward” but preferred not to give lap-by-lap details so as not to give clues to rivals.
“We are not disappointed because Motorsport is a marketing tool. As long as fans are talking about Peugeot, we’re happy. When we designed the 2023 car, we looked for a 50-50 weight balance, it wasn’t easy but it was possible. When we designed the 2024 car, with the big rear wheels, we had to change the balance to increase the grip there. It’s a necessary job, it costs more when redesigning the car but it’s necessary,” Finot said of the step back in the concept car.
“For the next races we have to see the BoP (Balance of Performance) they give us and we will see the potential of the car. The goal is to be as good as Qatar but 100% of the race, not 99% (where they abandoned on the last lap while on the podium due to lack of fuel). We are confident that the car will be faster. “Imola is a special track, with very aggressive corners and it can be difficult for everyone and there can be surprises.”
Where is there more room for maneuver?
Regarding their performance at MotorLand, the Frenchman emphasized that the car was more stable under the brakes than its predecessor and Stoffel Vandoorne, who made his Peugeot debut as a starting driver, also announced big steps forward. However, the Belgian emphasized that the car’s weak point remains reliability. Finot explained what they are focusing on this winter to improve that aspect.
“We have more support with these new tires and it’s more comfortable for the driver to maintain consistency during a stint or several stints. The concept car is no different. “90% are new pieces but the idea is the same,” he said.
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.
