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FIA WEC

Peugeot Confirms Mueller Hypercar Debut in Bahrain

Nico Mueller confirmed in No. 94 Peugeot for FIA WEC season finale in Bahrain…

Photo: Audi Sport

Peugeot has confirmed that Nico Mueller will make his debut for the French LMH manufacturer in next month’s FIA World Endurance Championship season finale.

As previously reported by Sportscar365, former Audi Sport factory driver Mueller, who joined Peugeot last month in advance of a 2023 race seat, will replace James Rossiter in the No. 94 Peugeot 9X8 for the 8 Hours of Bahrain on Nov. 12.

Rossiter contested the first two races of the Peugeot Hypercar program at Monza and Fuji but has stepped back from driving to focus on his new role as the team principal of the new Maserati MSG Racing Formula E team.

Peugeot and Maserati both fall under the Stellantis automotive group.

Mueller will share the No. 94 Peugeot with Loic Duval and Gustavo Menezes, while the No. 93 will continue to be driven by Paul di Resta, Jean-Eric Vergne and Mikkel Jensen.

“I’m so looking forward to making my debut in the Peugeot 9X8 in Bahrain,” Mueller said.

“My first drive in the car at the team’s Monza test [after Fuji] went very well. I quickly felt confident and was able to perform some long runs and try different tire options.

“I tend to adapt easily. I had a similar experience at Shanghai earlier in my career, in 2007, when I got just 10 laps in an LMP2 prototype before taking part in the race.

“Bahrain will be a chance to familiarize myself further with the 9X8, as will the simulator at the team’s headquarters in Satory. Simulators are such a precise and invaluable tool.”

Mueller “impressed” the Peugeot factory team during his test at Monza earlier this month, according to the manufacturer’s WEC technical director Olivier Jansonnie.

“He was calm, focused, and provided valuable feedback regarding the Peugeot 9X8 that backed up the views of his new teammates,” Jansonnie reported.

“He fitted in with the team easily and it’s now all-systems-go for his debut in Bahrain.

“I know I speak on behalf of everyone in the team when I salute all the great work James accomplished over the past year or so.

“He will stay on as our reserve driver and development driver on the simulator for a few more weeks before moving on to a new challenge for which he is ideally qualified.”

Mueller, who was originally due to work on the canceled Audi LMDh project, has competed in the WEC LMP2 class this year with Vector Sport.

The British team is expected to announce its Bahrain substitute for the two-time DTM runner-up later today.

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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