Peugeot defended the brand new model of its 9X8 LMH automobile after it was “by no means actually within the recreation” within the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Stoffel Vandoorne, Paul di Resta and Loic Duval completed eleventh in one of the best of the 2 9X8s, two laps down on the profitable Ferrari, with the sister automobile crewed by Nico Muller, Mikkel Jensen and Jean-Eric Vergne ending up twelfth.
Ex-Method 1 driver Vandoorne was very clear in his evaluation of the race, telling Autosport that “we have been merely missing pace throughout the entire race.
He added: “We bought dragged again from the beginning after which the circumstances have been very tough. We have been by no means actually within the recreation.”
Peugeot’s 2024 Le Mans outing was in stark distinction to its earlier look at Le Mans with the unique model of the 9X8.
On that event, the Stellantis model led the race at a minimum of 4 levels and confirmed real tempo to battle on the entrance, with solely a mix of incidents and reliability points dropping it down the order.
Nonetheless, regardless of exhibiting a scarcity of pace in 2024, Peugeot is satisfied that it made the correct determination to develop a brand new model of the 9X8 with a rear wing and 31cm extensive tyres, with technical director Olivier Jansonnie citing the bulletproof reliability as proof that it has made a step ahead with the automobile.
“I feel it was undoubtedly the correct option to make this automobile,” he stated. “It is for positive a bit new and we suffered when it comes to set-up and tempo, efficiency, simply studying this new automobile which is basically very completely different from the previous one.
#94 Peugeot Totalenergies Peugeot 9X8: Stoffel Vandoorne, Paul Di Resta, Loic Duval
Photograph by: Marc Fleury
“In order that was form of set from the take a look at day and free follow. We knew from there we might not be on the proper stage of efficiency. After which on the finish we did all the things to ship the very best race.
“Actually essentially the most optimistic factor for us is the reliability, we by no means had any challenge in any respect within the automobile, usually for the race but additionally for the take a look at day. Now we will spend much more time engaged on efficiency and are available stronger subsequent 12 months.”
Peugeot had beforehand justified the event of the 9X8 2024, as it’s formally known as, by a need to be equally aggressive in all kinds of tracks and never counting on Steadiness of Efficiency to battle with the established runners.
The wingless 9X8 was fast on sure forms of circuits, together with Le Mans, however was miles off the tempo on different venues that didn’t swimsuit the inherent traits of the automobile.
One of many key strengths of final 12 months’s 9X8 was its tempo in blended circumstances at Le Mans, which allowed it to realize time over its rivals through the essential crossover section between a dry and a moist monitor.
Peugeot admitted that it must analyse why it lacked on this space in 2024 with the brand new iteration of the hybrid-powered hypercar.
“That’s the a part of issues that we’ve got to work on,” stated Jansonnie. “For positive after we arrived right here lastly with final 12 months’s automobile we had a a lot better understanding of the automobile than we’ve got from this one.
“And clearly all of the crossover factors, how and when to vary tyres, these form of issues. It’s one thing we’ve got to be taught a bit.”
#93 Peugeot Totalenergies Peugeot 9X8: Jean-Eric Vergne, Mikkel Jensen, Nico Muller
Photograph by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Peugeot misplaced out to first-year producer Lamborghini within the closing levels of Le Mans, because the #63 SC63 LMDh of Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kvyat and Edoardo Mortara snatched tenth place from the #94 9X8 within the remaining hour.
Peugeot motorsport boss Jean-Marc Finot revealed that Peugeot was unfortunate with a timing of a gradual zone, because it allowed Lamborghini to get an inexpensive pitstop and rejoin the monitor forward of the #94 9X8.
“On the finish of the race we had good tempo in contrast with the Lamborghini. It was straightforward to meet up with the Lamborghini,” stated Finot.
“Sadly we bought a gradual zone when Lamborghini was pitting so we misplaced 40 seconds [in comparison].
“There have been gradual zones from begin line to the Dunlop bridge. He was at a low pace. He had pitted the lap earlier than.
“When Lamborghini pitted, Stoffel had arrived within the gradual zone. Stoffel was 12s up on the Lamborghini earlier than. He was fairly a bit forward. When he began once more, he was 32s down as a result of he was in gradual zone.”
