After a short break since the last race in Fuji, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies is ready to enter its two PEUGEOT 9X8 for the 8 Hours of Bahrain, seventh and last round of the FIA World Endurance Championship 2023 season.
After showing strong reliability during the 6 Hours of Fuji, though with less performance than expected, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies focussed on working hard during this short break to give its maximum for this last round and to perform at the highest level possible.
The PEUGEOT 9X8 first participation on the Bahrain International Circuit for last year’s FIA WEC Finale will allow the team to use its previously gathered data to have the most consistent race possible as it has done since the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their goal is to stay as close to the leaders of the Hypercar class, made up of no less than twelve cars.
The circuit is also very interesting with technical sections and smooth sequences
The PEUGEOT 9X8 will meet their initial line-ups with the return of Nico Müller alongside Loïc Duval and Gustavo Menezes in the #94 and the #93 driven by Jean-Eric Vergne, Paul Di Resta and Mikkel Jensen. On the 5th of November the traditional Rookie Test will take place where Stoffel Vandoorne, confirmed as official driver for the 2024 FIA WEC season and Malthe Jakobsen, part of the young talent programme of Peugeot Sport, will be at the wheel of PEUGEOT 9X8. They will be supported by Team Peugeot TotalEnergies driver, Mikkel Jensen.
Olivier Jansonnie – Peugeot Sport technical Director: “The Bahrain track is famous for being hard on the braking and tyres, especially regarding the degradation with high track temperatures. Thanks to last year’s race and the Rookie Test, we already have some experience as well as precious data that could be very useful in tyre management. This will be one of the challenges during the 8-hour race leading to different strategies for the teams, knowing that tyre allocation is a little bit better than for a 6-hour race. The circuit is also very interesting with technical sections and smooth sequences.
“I hope that we can have a good weekend to build some momentum before the winter break”
There are varying stakes in temperature management, an 8-hour race that brings more difficulties in terms of endurance and tyre management will be very important for our drivers and us. The goal for this last round is to keep both cars at a level of reliability that allow them to have a consistent race and to stay close to the leaders to be able to take advantage of the race opportunities that can lead to a good result.”
Paul Di Resta – Peugeot #93:
,“Bahrain is a track I really like racing at. I hope that since the break after Fuji and the tests we did, we managed to progress. The last race is always crucial, to end the season on a positive note given the difficulties of this year. We will have a long winter ahead and we are already look forward to going racing again next year, starting with Qatar. I hope that we can have a good weekend to build some momentum before the winter break.”
Nico Müller – Peugeot #94: “I’m very excited to get back behind the wheel of the 9X8, to get back to work with the whole team and go out there and give our best for this last race of the season. I hope that we will finish with a good one and I am confident we can do a good job. Obviously, it was not an easy season for us, but we have shown some potential, some highlights here and there and I hope that the last race of the season can be one as well. I go to Bahrain with good memories from my first official event with PEUGEOT last year. We can also build on that experience so I’m just going to go out there, give all I have and hopefully something positive will come out of it.”
