Peugeot notched up its first podium end with the 9X8 within the final spherical at Monza, with Jean-Eric Vergne, Paul di Resta and Mikkel Jensen ending third within the #93 automobile behind the successful Toyota and the second-placed Ferrari.
The breakthrough end result got here precisely a 12 months after Peugeot made its WEC Hypercar debut on the Italian observe, and adopted a tricky interval by which it was slowed down by each unreliability and a normal lack of tempo.
With the French producer having additionally proven robust velocity within the previous occasion at Le Mans, its Hypercar rivals now have a real motive to consider that will probably be aggressive on this weekend’s six-hour fixture at Fuji.
As per WEC’s Stability of Efficiency guidelines, Peugeot drivers may also be capable to deploy hybrid energy at simply 135km/h in comparison with 150km/h, an element that would play into its fingers based on Le Mans 24 Hours winner Ferrari.
“Peugeot is a bit underestimated as a result of as I stated at Le Mans it was fairly aggressive and the efficiency they confirmed within the first a part of the race earlier than the crash for Menezes was big,” Ferrari’s sportscar race and testing supervisor Giuliano Salvi stated.
“Right here we want not overlook however they’ve activation level at 135km/h in dry circumstances. It could possibly be fairly an vital issue. And at Monza anyway, they have been on the rostrum.
“Peugeot at first had numerous issues for reliability, however now they appear a bit extra dependable. I would not be stunned to seek out them within the combine on Sunday.”
#93 Peugeot Totalenergies Peugeot 9X8
Photograph by: Andy Chan
Regardless of finishing three full races final 12 months as a part of a partial programme, Peugeot continued to endure from severe reliability points at the start of the 2023 season.
This led to some pessimism concerning the French producer’s potential to get on prime of the problems, but it surely has since shortly circled its fortunes, even main at Le Mans on pure race tempo in the course of the night time.
Porsche’s Frederic Makowiecki was impressed by the progress Peugeot has made in its first endurance programme because the 908 HDi FAP, saying each the work carried out on the reliability entrance and BoP adjustments have made it a bona fide podium contender.
“They’ve made an enormous step,” he informed Motorsport.com. “There are two, three elements. The primary one is that they improved the reliability loads, positively. After which there have been some [BoP] changes that they made them to be again within the sport.”
Toyota’s Ryo Hirakawa additionally performed up Peugeot’s prospects for Fuji, with its hybrid deployment prone to be an enormous enhance whereas accelerating out of sluggish and medium-speed corners.
“Final time at Monza Porsche was quick, and particularly Peugeot can use the [hybrid] motor at a decrease velocity, so I feel they are going to be a risk.
“At Monza after we went out, it was a bit stunning [how close everyone was], and it does not seem to be anybody can be able to win by a big margin, so I feel will probably be shut once more.”
Hirakawa’s team-mate Brendon Hartley added: “Peugeot took their first podium at Monza and I feel [with] the BoP they need to be actually difficult for the victory, from what I can see. You’ll be able to’t write anybody off.”
Further reporting by Jamie Klien
