Peugeot left everyone speechless when they hit the track for the first tests of the year, in January 2022, due to the absence of the rear wing on their Hypercar: it’s actually the first prototype since 1967 to race in Le Mans without it. The team debuted in Monza during the 2022 season but had lots of issues, they’re still very hopeful for the 2023, as they’re getting ready to compete against some of the most iconic manufacturers in motorsport. Let’s discover this car.
The History
Peugeot’s endurance race history began during the ‘80s, with the goal to win in Le Mans. To do so, they created the Peugeot 905, officially debuting in 1990. In 2007 the French manufacturer won the Le Mans Series title with the 908HDi FAP.
In 2009 they won the 24H of Le Mans, being crowned champions in the InterContinental Le Mans Cup two years later. They finally announced their comeback in 2021, with the 9x8 Hypercar, racing already in 2022 at the 6H of Monza.
The Name 9X8
The “x” in the name stands for the electric engine (part of the hybrid engine), so for the vehicle’s electrification. The number 9 stands for Peugeot’s 9 extreme competition models, while the number 8 represents the car’s integration into the brand’s current production. The full name 9x8, if we multiply it, makes 72, which is the number of the department where Peugeot was born in La Sarthe.
The Chassis and The Livery
Peugeot’s car is almost five meters long and 1.4 m high, with a 90l tank. The main difference from the other Hypercars is the missing of the rear wing’s, due to particular aerodynamic choices from the team. The other peculiarity is its livery.
The French Hypercar colors are dark gray and black, really different from what Peugeot was used to race with. We won’t see a white and blue livery, as we were used to. The few similarities to their current road vehicles are the headlights.
The choice of not having a rear wing is due to Peugeot’s research for new aerodynamic and stylistic solutions. This was possible due to the LMH technical regulations, which allow more freedom in designing the car. The aerodynamic will be then provided by the bodywork itself; we can see how, for example, the mirrors are incorporated into the car, the exhausts ending in the tail, the appendages being vertical and in the rear area, and the airscope extension.
The Engine
The engine is a 2.6-liter V6 heat engine with 520kW on the rear axle and a 200kW electric motor on the front axle, with a one-speed gearbox. It’s a 4-wheel drive car and a 7-speed transmission. The hybrid powertrain is very complex, as the WEC regulations allowed the French manufacturer to decide where and how to place the car's two engines: the choice was almost the same as the one that is currently used for their road cars. The car is powered by the endothermic engine up to 120km/h, while the electric one comes into action when past that speed.
The Drivers
The drivers who are part of Peugeot’s Hypercar project, that already raced in 2022, are Paul Di Resta, Loïc Duval, Mikkel Jensen, Gustavo Menezes, Kevin Magnussen, James Rossister e Jean-Eric Vergne.
During the next few weeks we'll publish articles focused on every car that will race in the Hypercar class next year. Sign up to our newsletter to keep updated with every news on the 7 Hypercars who will race in 2023!
Written by Camilla Coletta, Translated by Alice Cecchi
Comentarios