The first announcement took place in September 2020. Peugeot, through Peugeot Sport, its competition division, would return to endurance championships (WEC or FIA World Endurance Championship) and to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2022 , in the new Hypercar category.
Several times winners at Le Mans, with both the 905 (1992 and 1993) and the 908 HDi FAP (2009), it is no wonder the expectations generated by the announcement of Peugeot's return — nothing less than victory is what we expect from the brand French.
Peugeot Sport's Hypercar has yet to be revealed — Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot Sport's technical director, says the design is now 95% complete — but we already know what will motivate it.
It will be a pure prototype — unfortunately, we learned recently, that it will not match a road model, as was once determined in the category regulations — and it will also be a hybrid.
It hasn't been named yet, but we already know that it will feature a 2.6 l (90º) twin-turbo V6 mounted in a central rear position, can deliver up to 680 hp and will only power the rear axle; and it will also have a MGU (motor-generator unit) capable of delivering 272 hp that will power the front axle. The combined use of the two engines cannot, however, exceed 680 hp (500 kW), which will force the limitation of 2.6 V6 to 408 hp (300 kW) when the electric motor is in operation. Find out more about the new machine:
the pilots
Of course, in addition to the machine, we need the drivers. Peugeot Sport today announced the drivers who will be part of its campaign at the WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2022 onwards.
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According to those responsible for Peugeot Sport, the pilot selection work started some time ago, with an initial selection of 40-50 pilots that after an analysis of the statistics of each one in the WEC, IMSA and LMS championships, resulted in a selection final of 12, before choosing the final seven drivers.
Perhaps that's why the most notable name to emerge is Kevin Magnussen, the Danish Formula 1 driver who in 2020 competed for Haas. Despite coming from the premier class of motorsports, his lack of experience in endurance competitions is evident. Something Magnussen hopes to tackle this year by driving a prototype of Chip Ganassi Racing's Cadillac in the IMSA Championship (the equivalent of the WEC). The other riders can meet them in the gallery below:
Kevin Magnussen, Denmark (28 years old). 118 Formula 1 matches / Formula Ford & Renault 3.5 Champion
Although they have only just been announced, work for the seven drivers will begin shortly before the car is ready to roll. Not only will they be an active part in the development of Peugeot Sport's Hypercar, but work on the simulator has already started.
LMH or LMDh?
The new Hypercar or LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) category where Peugeot Sport will compete has undergone some changes by its creators, the FIA and the ACO, to better align and match the machines that will participate in it with another new category, the LMDh ( Le Mans Daytona Hybrid). A somewhat controversial decision that led, for example, Aston Martin to suspend development of the Valkyrie LMH.
LMDh have a cost advantage over LMH, as they have a series of standard or common components among all participants. For example, although participating manufacturers may use their own engine and bodywork, the chassis will be provided by ORECA, Ligier, Dallara or Multimatic; just as the hybrid system will be identical in all of them.
In order to better even out circuit performance between the two categories, also the minimum weight and maximum combined power are now identical, respectively 1030 kg and 680 hp (500 kW).
However, Peugeot Sport has decided to stay in the Hypercar category which, despite higher development costs, allows for greater freedom, as Jean-Marc Finot, program director, told us in the Q&A session after the drivers' unveiling: “the Le Mans Hypercar category has greater freedom in design regulations (NDR: aerodynamics and style) and allows us to develop new technologies 'in house'.”
An asset that could be reflected, more directly, in future Peugeot electrified road models, going towards having as a Hypercar development partner, Total — a partnership that will also lead to the manufacture of batteries in Europe already from 2023.
When will we see the Peugeot Sport Hypercar?
According to Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot Sport's technical director, it will take months before we know the final car. The Hypercar's V6 will only start being bench tested in late April, and its merger with MGU in the new chassis should only take place in November.
If all goes according to plan, we will see Peugeot Sport's Hypercar begin the first dynamic tests later this year.