Above all else, Peugeot ought to be admired. Think about constructing a hypercar for a fully completely different set of rules that will get drastically altered as a result of LMH-LMDh convergence simply because the automotive’s growth is completed.
Then overhauling the automotive fully two years later solely to discover out that 5 Evo Jokers weren’t sufficient to catch as much as the competitors, leading to continued struggles on monitor. Nonetheless, Peugeot is right here to remain.
Analysing the BoP of each single race makes little sense right here. For nearly the total season, on tracks with common, automated BoP, the 9X8 raced with the very best power-to-weight ratio of 1.981kg/kW within the related sub-250 kph vary, with solely minor alterations on the season opener and the finale.
Way more vital is the relative hole to the rivals. On the opener in Qatar, the least favourably-rated hypercar had a spot of 0.128kg/kW to Peugeot’s power-to-weight ratio.
By the point WEC reached Fuji Speedway, the place Peugeot lastly had a sensible likelihood of successful, that hole had grown to 0.246 kg/kW. So, why did Peugeot require such an immense quantity of assist from the BoP?
The Curse of convergence
The reply is easy: the Peugeot 9X8 had by no means been developed for the present set of Hypercar rules. The 9X8’s authentic idea featured a 50:50 weight distribution with 4 an identical tyres and almost everlasting all-wheel drive. Peugeot determined to enter the WEC with an LMH automotive in late 2019. When the LMDh class was introduced in early 2020, Peugeot caught with the LMH idea, intent on fielding a automotive with no rear wing and creating a really standout machine. That call haunts the manufacturing facility group up to at the present time. It wasn’t till the summer time of 2021 that the LMH-LMDh convergence was codified within the rules. By then, the Peugeot 9X8 was already totally developed and needed to be fully rebuilt. A extra rear-heavy weight distribution of 48.5:51.5 favored the LMDh vehicles however was fully counterproductive to the 9X8’s philosophy. Moreover, the introduction of a minimal deployment velocity for the hybrid system—initially 150 kph as an alternative of 190 kph for the outdated mannequin with 4 equal tyres actually destroyed the automotive’s elementary philosophy. It shortly turned clear {that a} main replace was wanted. Nonetheless, the 2024 overhaul, which led to LMDh tyre sizes and a small rear wing, couldn’t repair all inherent issues with solely 5 permitted Evo Jokers. The now-retired Jean-Marc Finot famous Motorsport.com’s German sister publication Motorsport-Complete.com at Spa-Francorchamps that the powertrain was a serious hurdle, because it had been strictly designed for light-weight building to attain the 50:50 weight distribution.
Because of this, the light-weight 2.6-litre V6 powertrain needed to be made artificially heavier to shift extra mass to the rear. In distinction, the Toyota GR010 Hybrid with its bigger 3.5-litre engine was a lot better fitted to adaptation to the brand new guidelines. Finot confirmed: “We nonetheless have the DNA of the unique rules on this automotive.” This was evident all through the 2025 season. At Qatar and Imola, Peugeot was nowhere close to the entrance, managing solely two ninth-place finishes. At Spa-Francorchamps, the LMH carried out higher, and Peugeot ran with the main group for a very long time. However when the playing cards got here on the desk, the group messed up the technique for the #93, whereas the #94 retired attributable to contact with a BMW. No likelihood at Le Mans The distinctive Le Mans BoP introduced a large shock. The Peugeot 9X8, which had all the time loved essentially the most beneficial ranking sub-250 kph, was given a ratio of two.049kg/kW—the worst of all Hypercar contenders. Above 250 kph—for as soon as within the season, this ratio is an important issue at Le Mans—the 9X8 acquired the second-worst ranking at 2.074 kg/kW. How the values in each classes could possibly be so unfavourable stays a thriller. It’s identified that the Le Mans BoP was created utilizing simulation knowledge, and earlier expertise was apparently not taken into consideration; in any other case, Peugeot wouldn’t have been given such a powerful BoP within the first place. Realistically, Peugeot might have thrown within the towel earlier than the race even started. But, the “Lions” confirmed true sportsmanship, going through the not possible battle in hopes of scavenging a couple of championship factors over the lengthy run. Remarkably, the #94 managed to complete tenth because of a flawless efficiency. Nonetheless, within the 60% common of quickest lap occasions, the Peugeots even trailed the quicker Aston Martin and solely beat the slower Valkyrie, being the second- and third-slowest vehicles general. Further jokers solely assist with the appropriate technique At that time, Peugeot was already set to construct a totally new Hypercar, doubtless one other LMH. Nonetheless, throughout producer discussions after Le Mans, a brand new clause was launched—much like the concessions system in MotoGP—granting struggling producers extra Evo Jokers. That made Peugeot persist with the 9X8 for the time being. What number of jokers it would take to lastly make the LMH aggressive stays to be seen. However jokers used to align the automotive with the rules are ineffective if errors are made on the bottom. Peugeot’s technique typically seemed poor in 2025. Following the error in Spa, Peugeot was strategically overwhelmed by BMW in Sao Paulo.
From Sao Paulo onwards, the BoP hole to the opposite hypercars widened considerably. It was clear that Peugeot and Aston Martin wanted a lot assist that every one different hypercars needed to be rated even much less favourably, which in flip helped Peugeot. The breakthrough got here on the Circuit of the Americas, the place the #94 secured the primary podium of the season in the Texas rain. The Peugeot’s power-to-weight ratio stayed beneficial for Fuji. The #93 got here inside a whisker of the effort’s long-awaited first victory, however this time it had been strategically outplayed by Alpine to complete second. Nonetheless, Fuji was the very first race the place the 9X8 might have received on pure advantage, giving the group a much-needed enhance. For Bahrain, the BoP nonetheless seemed good on paper, however Peugeot as soon as once more fumbled operationally, placing each vehicles on the unsuitable technique after the mid-race Security Automotive. This proves that Peugeot nonetheless has room for enchancment on an operational degree, as strategic errors had been a recurring theme all through the season. Particularly with two vehicles within the hunt, a method cut up at Bahrain would have been the logical selection. On a constructive notice, the 9X8 has lastly put its reliability points to relaxation with the one retirement of the season being courtesy of a collision. Nonetheless, it’s the perseverance of the Stellantis model that deserves to be applauded. Different producers might need walked away way back given the hand Peugeot was dealt by the rules since 2021. However the Lions stay, and for that, ought to be given the utmost respect.
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