After France’s ACO racing organizing body cre ated new rules for the Hypercar class in World Endurance
Peugeot Sport Technical Director Olivia Jansonnie said rule changes at the beginning of the 2022 season put Peugeot at a disadvantage with Balance of Performance (BOP) rules. On the new car, in the works since early 2023, “The idea was therefore to go back to a car design that is similar that of our rivals car design,” he said, “so that it would then be given equivalent treatment by the BOP.” But he also stressed that the new car is a heavily upgraded version of last year’s 9×8, not a brand new car. Adding a rear wing lead engineers to rework 90% of the bodywork and change the weight balance. The new regulations encouraged a switch to staggered tires instead of the 310-mm rubber previously used all around. And engineers took steps to improve engine and gearbox reliability.
As on the last car, Peugeot Sport worked with Peugeot Design on a new livery in Peugeot Sport’s various colors, described as “black, grey, white and kryptonite.” The scheme puts the brand’s lion icon all over, in different sizes, symbolizing a pack of lions that “conveys the sense of collective that reflects the values of Endurance racing perfectly.” It can take a second to make out the heads because they’re bigger than you’d expect, but start by looking at the dark gray graphics, the icons are easier to see.
After entering the previous 9×8 in the 2024 WEC season’s first race in Qatar, the updated 9×8 enters the fray at the 6 Hours of Imola on April 21.