Peugeot is entering the Fuji 6 Hours with a modified driver line-up in the #94 9X8. Nico Müller injured his left collarbone during training in August and, in consultation with the doctors, will not be taking part in the Japanese round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Thus, Stoffel Vandoorne is making his debut in the hypercar class. The 2022 Formula E World Champion will start at Fuji Speedway alongside Gustavo Menezes and Loic Duval. For the wingless racer it is the second outing at the 6 Hours of Fuji.
“Unfortunately Nico cannot take part in this race, we wish him a speedy recovery,” says Peugeot technical director Olivier Jansonnie. Stoffel Vandoorne has our complete trust. We know he [ins Auto] can jump in and do his best right away.”
Vandoorne has WEC experience in the LMP2 class. In 2021 he finished runner-up for Jota Sport alongside Sean Gelael and Tom Blomqvist, he also competed in two LMP1 class races in the SMP Racing BR1 in 2019 and took two third places.
Peugeot wants to attack after a bumpy start to the season
The Belgian joined the Stellantis Group last winter as the reigning Formula E World Champion. In addition to his Formula E season for DS Penske, which did not go according to plan with eleventh place in the world championship and no podium, he was also a reserve driver in the Peugeot hypercar program.
A test in the 9X8 was planned for November 2022, but the ex-Formula 1 driver had to cancel it due to appendicitis.
After a bumpy start to the season, Peugeot needs to build on the improvements that were clearly visible at Le Mans and Monza recently. Jean-Eric Vergne, Mikken Jensen and Paul di Resta most recently ensured the first podium finish for the Peugeot 9X8 at the 6 Hours of Monza.
“The goal for this race is to continue to show that we can regularly fight for first places and podiums with both cars. To do that, we have to achieve the same level of performance as in Monza in the last two races in Fuji and Bahrain.”
Above all, it is important to complete a race with both cars without any problems. That hasn’t happened in the WEC so far.