[WEC] Peugeot Sport returning to WEC

[Mike E]

https://twitter.com/dsceditor/status...c_woUQPJQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/dsceditor/status...YjofrLKSg&s=19

[deggis]

"We have been crash testing our front crash box and the monocoque. The rear structure, steering column and battery have also been crash tested. Now we are doing the final stages of homologation and inspection.

“Hopefully the car will get homologated in the next weeks.”

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ation-process/

[canaglia]

I recalled well they were involved in homologation crash tests according to their statements. So are they going to be invisible because of not enough data for a proper bop?

[S griffin]

It shows how serious they are, leaving no stone unturned in order to get this car prepared, making sure the crash tests are done well. I don't think they need to worry about BOP, as they shouldn't affect things too much. They are only having a taster at the end of this year

[joeb]

The driver pairing announcements have been made

The French manufacturer revealed Wednesday that Paul Di Resta, Mikkel Jensen and Jean-Eric Vergne will pilot the No. 93 Peugeot 9X8, with the No. 94 Hypercar class entry to be driven by James Rossiter, Gustavo Menezes and Loic Duval.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ons-for-monza/

[NaBUru38]

Rossiter last raced in 2019...

[broadrun96]

So he's well rested and can go for the longer stints?

[Tique]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Rossiter last raced in 2019...

I think he has spent a couple of hours behind the wheels of the 9x8

[Gingers4Justice]

I too think it's a bit strange they've gone for a 38 year old who's not raced competitively for nearly 3 years when there are so many young, talented, hungry and proven drivers in the LMP2 ranks at the moment.

[Tom908V12]

And apparently Sébastien Bourdais was interested by the adventure, but Peugeot told him...he was too old !!!

Now, BMW(who runs in USA + Le Mans next year)can hire him and Simon Pagenaud...

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Tom908V12

And apparently Sébastien Bourdais was interested by the adventure, but Peugeot told him...he was too old !!!

Now, BMW(who runs in USA + Le Mans next year)can hire him and Simon Pagenaud...

BMW can only run LM if they commit to a full season WEC campaign (which could very well happen but nothing official as of right now).

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I too think it's a bit strange they've gone for a 38 year old who's not raced competitively for nearly 3 years when there are so many young, talented, hungry and proven drivers in the LMP2 ranks at the moment.

He was already the reserve/test driver. So in a way the most logical choice.

[Tique]

Originally Posted by Tom908V12

Now, BMW(who runs in USA + Le Mans next year)can hire him and Simon Pagenaud...

I will bet on Acura for SImon

[C6R Racing Fan]

Originally Posted by Tom908V12

And apparently Sébastien Bourdais was interested by the adventure, but Peugeot told him...he was too old !!!
(

......one of the fastest guys in a car at the moment!

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Tom908V12

And apparently Sébastien Bourdais was interested by the adventure, but Peugeot told him...he was too old !!!

Now, BMW(who runs in USA + Le Mans next year)can hire him and Simon Pagenaud...

I think simon pagenaud is way more interested in indycar, and he will probably be acura-MSR endurance races third driver

[S griffin]

Picked a good mix of experience drivers there. Gonna be hard to find many others about. Rossiter, di Resta and Vergne are the best picks for me

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Picked a good mix of experience drivers there. Gonna be hard to find many others about. Rossiter, di Resta and Vergne are the best picks for me

Personally I'm not particularly persuaded by Rossiter or di Resta. Duval, Jensen and Menezes are far better picks IMO. JEV is also a decent choice.

[S griffin]

I have overlooked Duval there, he has the most sportscar experience of the lot

[J Jay]

Di Resta is fine, he's done good work for UA recently (likely why he was picked).

Jensen has the potential, but I'd say Duval will be the go-to driver for at least the first season.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Di Resta is fine, he's done good work for UA recently (likely why he was picked).

Jensen has the potential, but I'd say Duval will be the go-to driver for at least the first season.

big guns like di resta and duval aside, everyone here reminds rossiter just as a kolles driver, while he's probably the driver with the richest background having been involved in f1 as test driver, he's currently formula e DS reserve and development driver and most of all he was for 4 or 5 seasons one of GT500 #36/#37 tom's cars work drivers (replacing duval, who replaced lotterer before).

[S griffin]

di Resta has shown himself quite adept at sportscars and Duval is always a safe pair of hands. Maybe Rossiter isn't quite as good as those two, he's picked up the odd drive here and there. It's a shame he never got a chance in F1, but he's made up for it. People obviously see something if he keeps getting employed, even though he's probably not people's first choice

[bentley speed 8]

Originally Posted by canaglia

big guns like di resta and duval aside, everyone here reminds rossiter just as a kolles driver, while he's probably the driver with the richest background having been involved in f1 as test driver, he's currently formula e DS reserve and development driver and most of all he was for 4 or 5 seasons one of GT500 #36/#37 tom's cars work drivers (replacing duval, who replaced lotterer before).

Also did a single season in the Calsonic Nissan a couple of years ago, so there should be some merit as to why he was picked

[S griffin]

I don't think he's a bad driver. As I said he wouldn't be people's first choice, but he must be doing something right to still be picked

[Tom908V12]

So Peugeot already decided the driver trios of each 9X8(for Monza and more)

#93: Di Resta, Jensen, Vergne
#94: Rossiter, Menezes, Duval

And by the way, this week they used the Motorland Circuit in Aragon(Spain)for testing, especially two 6 hours test sessions with all the drivers to prepare next month WEC race

[Aysedasi]

It really is an enormous shame that they didn't get the cars out for Le Mans..... from our perspective, anyway.....