Peugeot Didn’t Reach the Right Window With Qualifying Tires

Peugeot attributed its lowly qualifying result at Fuji Speedway to struggles with getting its tires into the optimal working window according to the head of Stellantis Motorsport.

In the first race since Peugeot’s first FIA World Endurance Championship podium at Monza, Mikkel Jensen and Loic Duval only qualified 10th and 11th for Sunday’s six-hour contest, out of a dozen Hypercar entries.

Jensen was the fastest of the pair in the No. 93 Peugeot 9X8 but still came through 2.1 seconds off the overall pace set by Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Kamui Kobayashi.

Stellantis Motorsport boss Jean-Marc Finot told reporters after qualifying that both drivers faced difficulty in getting the medium compound slicks into their most effective working range during the limited time available, while Duval also had a delay in his run.

“It’s not what we expected,” reflected Finot. “Tenth or 11th is not our target. After Monza, we were hoping for better.

“On this specific track, we didn’t put the tires in a good window. In just 15 minutes we have to put the car in a window. The track is specific, and we didn’t achieve it.

“On the No. 94, we had a lock of tires, so we had a flat spot and changed tires. When we came back into the window, it was raining. Even on the No. 93, we didn’t reach the right window.”

Jensen, who shares the No. 93 Peugeot with Jean-Eric Vergne and Paul Di Resta, added that variable conditions at Fuji this weekend have made it difficult to set up the car.

“It’s no secret that we expected more, but we just didn’t get the tires to work,” said the Danish driver.

“It never felt like we had the bite, so it was hard to put a lap [in]. We more or less maximized what we had in the session, but we need to analyze why we didn’t have more grip.

“I think generally with the mixed conditions it’s been hard for us to put the perfect car together [in Free Practice].

“Sometimes we have some good laps but then it doesn’t really work when we change [something] because it’s super sensitive on the right tire pressure and right balance.

“Even in this session, we had a bit of drizzling out there.”

Despite a tough qualifying, Finot reckons the grip issues won’t carry over into the race and harm Peugeot’s chances of challenging the other Hypercar manufacturers.

The French manufacturer is aiming to continue its recent uptick in form that included leading at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finishing third at Monza with the No. 93 car.

“We are not specifically worried because in the race we put the tires in the right window for longer stints,” said Finot.

“It will be different tomorrow. But so far, we are not the best of the front-runners on this track. We are losing time mainly in sector three.”