Quinn “Feels Like A Bronze Driver” Ahead of Peugeot Debut

Peugeot FIA World Endurance Championship debutant Alex Quinn says he feels “like a Bronze driver” as the manufacturer helps him get up to speed with the 9X8 in Barcelona practice.

The Briton, who won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s LMP2 title this season, had served as Peugeot’s test and reserve driver this season but it was announced earlier this month that he would be stepping up to a full-time race seat next year.

It was then subsequently revealed that he would contest the final two WEC rounds at Barcelona and Monza at the wheel of the No. 93 Peugeot 9X8 in place of Stoffel Vandoorne, who left the team following the previous Fuji event.

With Peugeot giving Quinn plenty of time behind the wheel in the opening practice sessions — he completed 21 laps in FP1 and then a further 17 in FP2 — he appreciated the chance to get fully to grips with the Hypercar.

“It’s a good time for me to get into the car and not have to rush anything,” said Quinn of the practice preparation.

“This year in IMSA and ELMS with a Bronze driver, I feel like I’m getting the same treatment they do. It’s nice that I feel like the team’s looking after me and giving me what I need to do the best job I can.”

When asked how useful these two outings this year will be ahead of his full campaign in 2027, Quinn added: “Bigger picture that’s a good way to look at it.

“Today I’m not really looking at it that way — I want to do the best job I can right here, right now — but bigger picture it’s nice I can get these two races and learn the team and learn the way they work and at the same time build a platform to get me well prepared for next year. It’s perfect.”

While Quinn has experience of the 9X8 from several test outings, including in last year’s rookie test in Bahrain, he is looking “intrigued” to learn how it behaves when in a race environment.

“In the Hypercar you’re racing against different manufacturers so that will be the thing, learning the strengths of where other cars are quicker or slower and trying to use that in a race situation,” said Quinn, when comparing it to his LMP2 competition, which is effectively single-make.

“It’s something that I’m really excited to learn and I’m ready to really focus on that part because I think it will be important to understand that.”

Quinn described his factory Peugeot deal as a “dream come true” and added: “This is the start and hopefully the start of something long-term and a successful journey together and that’s what I want.

“I’ve already felt like a member of the family here and hopefully that continues. I’m taking it all in and it’s very easy to get sucked up in the moment. It can very quickly end so I want to make the most of it and enjoy it and do a good job.”

Peugeot team boss Emmanuel Esnault had previously talked of how impressed he was by Quinn’s performances in testing and fully believes he is ready for the step up to a race seat.

He described it as a logical decision to bring him into the car before the end of this season, saying: “The opportunity to have him on board for Barcelona and Monza is really to capitalize upon every possible opportunity to get ready for 2027.

“We have no doubt about his ability to get on well with the team — he knows the team already.”