Peugeot Evaluating “Different Concepts” for 9X8 Updates

Peugeot has been evaluating “quite a lot of different concepts” to update its LMH car ahead of next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship season, according to its technical director Olivier Jansonnie.

The French manufacturer finished on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 6 Hours of Monza during its first full season in Hypercar but has found life difficult at other circuits including Sebring International Raceway and Fuji Speedway, where it struggled for traction in lower-speed corners.

Peugeot’s seventh and eighth place in the 6 Hours of Fuji came despite both cars being given a lower dry weather hybrid deployment activation speed of 135 km/h in the Balance of Performance.

Jansonnie told reporters ahead of this weekend’s season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain that it has taken a wide berth on potential modifications to the 9X8.

Addressing recent media reports about Peugeot evaluating the introduction of a rear wing, Jansonnie said: “We are evaluating every concept for next year.

“We have been evaluating quite a lot of different concepts. The target is to be in a better position next year, so we are looking at it without any biased judgment on anything.

“We are just looking openly at it. We think the regulation has evolved quite a lot, and the BoP, since two years. We are looking at it in a very open manner.”

He added: “We are trying to do whatever it takes to make a much better position next year, so the development never really stopped.

“We are looking forward to what we can bring in terms of a new homologation.”

Adding a rear wing would represent a significant change to the 9X8, which has arguably the most radical design in the Hypercar class based on its reliance on generating downforce from underneath.

However, Jansonnie wouldn’t confirm if the adoption of a rear wing is being pursued.

When asked if the Peugeot 9X8 will look considerably different next year, he responded: “It’s possible. It’s part of the joker we are presenting, obviously.”

Hypercar manufacturers can make a limited number of technical updates for performance reasons, known as ‘EVO jokers’ in the technical regulations. Further modifications can be made for reliability purposes.

What is deemed to be one of the five permitted jokers depends on the outcome of dialogue with the FIA and ACO. The joker allowance remains at five from Jan. 2021 to Dec. 2027 regardless of how many new homologations the manufacturer takes out.

Jansonnie wouldn’t directly say whether Peugeot intends to max out its joker allowance on upgrades for next season but acknowledged that such modifications are time-consuming.

He added that Peugeot is “still discussing” with the rule makers about what constitutes a performance-related joker or a reliability update, with regard to its potential updates.

“If you want to max out your jokers, it takes a lot of time,” said Jansonnie.

“Taking time to do things properly is what you do when you’re trying to max out. And obviously you can’t wait forever either.

“You are trying to rush things into the development to bring it to the racetrack as soon as possible, but at the same time make sure you don’t consume your jokers too easily and try to make the best out of them. We are always in compromise. It’s a fine line, actually.”