24h Le Mans
In the wake of a 2024 season punctuated by progress and even a late podium finish, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies is heading into 2025 with determination. The Peugeot 9X8 has been fine-tuned across this year's races and is seeking to vie for top spots with a measure of consistency. Fortified with a positive outlook, the engineers and drivers hope to give the best teams a run for their money at the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans on 11-15 June.
Last winter, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies executed an ambitious overhaul of the Peugeot 9X8 with one goal in mind: to reach the top spots in the FIA World Endurance Championship, and mainly to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The technical and engineering crews quickly galvinised their efforts and tweaked the 9X8 to hold its own against the championship's major contenders.
The first rounds of the 2024 season proved it was easier said than done. Despite noticeable improvement, the Peugeot 9X8 faced off against fierce competition, namely the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, Ferrari 499P and Porsche 963, three Hypercars that have certainly raised the performance bar.
At the FIA WEC season highlight, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the imbalance in respective performance levels was particularly obvious: the two Peugeot 9X8s finished 11th and 12th overall, trailing the winning Ferrari by two full laps. The result reflected the challenges the team faced against competitors with complete control of their cars and strategies.
Yet, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has demonstrated true resilience. The second half of the season saw real progress and constantly improving performances. At the 6 Hours of Fuji, the 9X8 achieved an impressive fourth place overall finish with the team's blood, sweat and tears finally bearing fruit. The rise carried through to the last race, the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain, where Team Peugeot TotalEnergies clinched third place.
Jean-Marc Finot, Stellantis Motorsport Senior VP: The season began under challenging conditions with a car that took time to find its rhythm, but the team never gave up, and we are pleased to end the season with a positive result that marks continuous progress. However, this podium should only be a step toward more consistent results in the top positions.
Though the Peugeot 9X8 hasn't yet reached the top tier in the FIA WEC hierarchy, the 2024 season helped lay a solid foundation for the future. Team Peugeot TotalEnergies is looking to 2025 to parlay progress into consistent performances and enjoy a major payoff at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a much more competitive car.
