Former F1 racer and 2022 Formula E world champion Stoffel Vandoorne will join Peugeot’s hypercar effort for next year’s World Endurance Championship.
The former McLaren F1 driver and current DS Penske Formula E racer will likely replace Gustavo Menezes in the current number 94 car, joining Peugeot as a full time factory driver in the Hypercar class for the first time.Vandoorne has previous WEC experience having raced for Alpine’s LMP1 team in 2019 and JOTA in the LMP2 class in 2021. He stepped into the Peugeot 9X8 at the latest WEC round at Fuji, replacing the injured Nico Muller.
The 31-year-old said signing with Peugeot was a means of achieving his goal to return to the endurance series.
“My goal was clearly to come back to this championship and even more now with the Hypercar class, with so many manufacturers,” Vandoorne said.
“Having the opportunity to fight for the victory and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is fantastic and I think it’s a dream for a lot of drivers. I’m really glad to be part of this team and excited to start with Peugeot.”
Signing Vandoorne was a reflection of Peugeot’s faith in his abilities, said senior vice-president of Stellantis Motorsport, Jean-Marc Finot.
“As he showed in Fuji, his team spirit, his performance, and his consistency are in line with the ones of his teammates,” said Finot.
“Of course, we already know Stoffel very well, as driver for DS Penske in Formula E; he is part of the Stellantis Motorport drivers’ family. His ability to adapt and to be get into rhythm right away shows that both series are complementary, the FIA WEC and FIA Formula E and the advantage of having drivers that participate in both championships.”
Peugeot currently sit fifth in the Hypercar constructors’ standings, ahead of Glickenhaus and Vanwall after six rounds with only the Eight Hours of Bahrain remaining. Toyota have already clinched the title with a round to spare, having won every race this season except the Le Mans 24 Hours.
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HAL
22nd September 2023, 13:30
About time we see him in a real race car !!! ;-)
Sorry, couldn’t help myself.