Jakobsen: Peugeot Deal a “Huge Step Forward” in Career

Malthe Jakobsen described his appointment as Peugeot’s Junior Driver as a “huge step forward” for his career, adding the deal was a continuation of a relationship that started at last year’s Bahrain Rookie Test.

The 19-year-old Dane joined Peugeot in a junior capacity last month in a role that will see him involved in simulator work, test sessions and race preparations with the 9X8 LMH car.

It marks a new chapter in Jakobsen’s fledgling career, which so far included an LMP3 title in the European Le Mans Series and a class win in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

This year, he stepped up to LMP2 with Cool Racing, taking overall victory in the third round of the Asian Le Mans Series season in Abu Dhabi.

Jakobsen told Sportscar365 that he sees the deal as a significant factor in his career progression, but that he will also be able to bring new insights to his current ELMS campaign as a result.

“For sure it’s a huge improvement and a huge step forward in my career to finally be joining a manufacturer,” Jakobsen said.

“Even though it’s a junior driver now, but for me as a driver I think I will be able to learn a lot as well from the other drivers in the team and how the team are operating in a factory [program].

“Because all of the stuff I will learn together with them I will be able to bring back to cool racing in the LMP2 car for the rest of the ELMS season.

“For me as a driver I think it will be a great opportunity to be able to improve even more and start building on myself as a racing driver.”

Jakobsen’s relationship with Peugeot started at the Bahrain rookie test last November.

He turned heads by becoming the fastest rookie driver during the test, notably outpacing ABB FIA Formula E World Championship driver Maximillian Guenther and two-time FIA WTCR champion Yann Ehrlacher in the same machinery.

“To be honest, I guess that was the start of the relationship together with them,” Jakobsen said of the test.

“Obviously I have Nicolas [Lapierre], he has taken care of me and helped me to introduce the correct people in the paddock, which gave me the opportunity to get the rookie test.

“Following the test that we did and the results that we managed to show, for sure the contact has been continuing and it’s nice to finally be able to share the news that I’m joining them.”

Jakobsen admitted that he hopes to continue his progression into a Hypercar race seat, also revealing that he spoke with other manufacturers before opting to sign with Peugeot.

“For sure that’s the target and my goal because I want to race in Hypercar and prove that I have the level to compete at the top of this sport,” he said. “So it’s a great start but hopefully in the future I will be able to.

“I have been in contact with a couple of others, but in the end I really like the way the Peugeot people are working.

“Now I got to know them and also it’s important for me to show that these guys were the first to help me out getting the chance to test out a Hypercar officially.

“So I thought it was a great story to continue the relationship with them.”

LMP2 Characteristics Suit Jakobsen “Really Well”

Jakobsen has adapted quickly to LMP2 competition after several years of racing in LMP2.

He took a race victory in Asian Le Mans and finished fourth overall in his first ELMS race outing behind the wheel of the Oreca 07 Gibson, claiming a Pro-Am class podium in the process.

Jakobsen explained that he took to the characteristics of the LMP2 car well, adding that it was a natural step up from LMP3.