[WEC] Peugeot Sport returning to WEC

[Pandamasque]

By Craig Scarborough



I don't think I've even seen such an arrangement behind the front wheels with the sidepod sloping down, instead of tapering inward like modern LMPs or just meeting the wheel arch like prototypes from 15+ years ago.

While at the back, the two winglets sit above huge BHHs, unlike with Ferrari FXX and some other cars that also sport them.

[AndrewCherry]

It's fascinating, and it does seem to include some aerodynamic approaches which are outside of the norm that's been almost settled on with prototypes for a while now. I think it's an incredibly positive thing that there's a set of regulations which allows for innovation in this way (yes, it's artificial to an extent, but so are all regs).

Will it work? No idea, and I'm not going to pretend to be an armchair aerodynamicist. I can't imagine that the fluid dynamics team at Peugeot Sport is entirely comprised of idiots though - if they think this will work, it would be a bit surprising if they didn't have a good chunk of simulation data to back that up well before the first bit of carbon fibre was produced. Simulations are never the same as a track test, but these days that gap is a lot smaller than it was even just a few years ago.

[Adam43]

The key to whether things work or not could well be down to how flexible they are.

They will all hit the right numbers in the wind tunnel in the situation it is there. But how easy is it, is he performance peaky, or maintained in a variety of conditions. Will the limited tuning they have be useful. It’s quite a challenge to switch what you optimize to. No longer is it outright performance.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Adam43

The key to whether things work or not could well be down to how flexible they are.

They will all hit the right numbers in the wind tunnel in the situation it is there. But how easy is it, is he performance peaky, or maintained in a variety of conditions. Will the limited tuning they have be useful. It’s quite a challenge to switch what you optimize to. No longer is it outright performance.

Indeed. This is exactly what's happened in LMP2. The Ligier, in the right conditions, can be a faster car than the Oreca - but the Oreca is quick anywhere at any time.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Must say, they've gone up in my estimation just because they're trying something a bit different. I'm not really a fan of Peugeot but it's much more interesting than the generally pretty safe routes we've seen from others.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Adam43

The key to whether things work or not could well be down to how flexible they are.

Yes, and which aerodynamic element was made adjustable is still a mystery. I'm not seeing much of a spoiler where I expected to see an adjustable one.

[peetleouf]

Just imagine! A livery that is not white or red, that's the real innovation!

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by peetleouf

Just imagine! A livery that is not white or red, that's the real innovation!

It's not that different from the ByKolles LMP1 liveries. It's not like they went with pink or something (that'd be cool).

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by peetleouf

Just imagine! A livery that is not white or red, that's the real innovation!

not yet...

[JoeF]

Short video clip:

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...-wing/7386803/

[Pandamasque]

B Sport on the latest aero changes
https://youtu.be/txf141fyCM8

[deggis]

[S griffin]

It's getting closer to happening all the time. Them going radical with the design could actually work, but we'll see. Have to see them at the official tests to see where they are at with the car

[Pandamasque]

Note how they switched for an F1-style airbox on the roof.

[Ferrari333SP]

TBH, the track version looks hideous

[Sodemo]

My hunch is, that this will get a rear wing before it hits the track proper, even if its a tiny tea tray. The options for tuning handling are just too great to ignore and yes you can adjust rear ride height to tune aero, but then by doing so you also adjust the suspension geometry slightly. It would make more sense to be able to tweak a tiny rear wing (imo).

I get a whiff of the Nissan LMP1 effort thinking behind this decision to avoid a rear wing.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Ferrari333SP

TBH, the track version looks hideous

Yep, only it's mother could consider it pretty - from the front, anyway.....

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

My hunch is, that this will get a rear wing before it hits the track proper, even if its a tiny tea tray. The options for tuning handling are just too great to ignore and yes you can adjust rear ride height to tune aero, but then by doing so you also adjust the suspension geometry slightly. It would make more sense to be able to tweak a tiny rear wing (imo).

As I understand it - the car is only permitted to have one adjustable aero feature, and that feature is already present in another part of the car. So, adding a rear wing means you have a fixed wing, regardless of circuit.

[broadrun96]

Well they at least have an award to add to their shelf already according to S365:

"**The Peugeot 9X8 was awarded the ‘Hypercar of the Year’ grand prize at the 37th annual Festival Automobile held in France lsat week. The manufacturer’s in-development LMH contender was designed by a team led by Matthias Hossann."

https://sportscar365.com/features/ro...undup-1-31-22/

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well they at least have an award to add to their shelf already according to S365:

"**The Peugeot 9X8 was awarded the ‘Hypercar of the Year’ grand prize at the 37th annual Festival Automobile held in France lsat week. The manufacturer’s in-development LMH contender was designed by a team led by Matthias Hossann."

https://sportscar365.com/features/ro...undup-1-31-22/

Bizarre. It hasn't even turned a wheel in anger yet.....

[TF110]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but imo the new Cadillac looks better. I just think it won a cool award but it needs to win races. Let's see

[joeb]

Originally Posted by TF110

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but imo the new Cadillac looks better. I just think it won a cool award but it needs to win races. Let's see

well to be fair, we haven't seen the caddy, just a render driving around. There are at least some pics/videos of a real car for the Peug. Or did I miss something besides the press release video today?

[TF110]

Originally Posted by joeb

well to be fair, we haven't seen the caddy, just a render driving around. There are at least some pics/videos of a real car for the Peug. Or did I miss something besides the press release video today?

Whatever it was that Cadillac showed looked great. In my eyes better than the Peugeot render. But both are really nice to look at. Hopefully I can see them on track together!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by TF110

Whatever it was that Cadillac showed looked great. In my eyes better than the Peugeot render. But both are really nice to look at. Hopefully I can see them on track together!

I agree and the new regulations provide the opportunity for different shapes. I hope we get that variety on the grid in the next couple of years - and if they actually use different colors schemes in the top class it would be even better!

[ascarracinguk]

Well, interesting news from Pug today, on whether they will make it to Le Mans or not....

...will also be interesting that if they dont, how flexible the ACO/WEC will be on letting them race the last couple of rounds in 2022

https://www.motorsport.com/lemans/ne...ision/8165306/