Official: Peugeot announces its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Peugeot announced its return to the endurance category via its Twitter account and a press release, a piece of news that did not fail to surprise.

« The Executive Committee of the PSA Group has studied the proposal made by PSA Motorsport, supported by the Peugeot brand, to launch a sports program as part of the FIA WEC championship, with the last of the eight races taking place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. » This was stated in the press release published by PSA Motorsport this Wednesday.

After a lackluster ending in an economic crisis context, it seems that the PSA group was interested in the new 2020 regulations concerning the Hypercar category.

The significant cost reduction allowed by the new Hypercar regulations and the confirmation of electrifying powertrains with hybrid technology led the PSA Group Executive Committee to approve the proposal for the Peugeot brand to participate in this championship in 2022, thanks to a marketing performance consistent with PSA Group standards. Details of this sporting commitment will be specified at the beginning of 2020.

The lion-branded marque is making its return to the WEC, a discipline it partly created in 2012. The Team Peugeot Total and the 908 left a lasting impression between 2007 and 2011 by winning 20 out of the 32 races it participated in. The team notably won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2009 with the crew composed of David Brabham, Marc Gené, and Alexander Wurz. This most recent victory added to the two others achieved in 1992 and 1993 with the 905.

Peugeot Sport will be able to draw inspiration from these past successes to develop their new Hybrid hypercar.

« I am very enthusiastic about mobilizing the talents of my teams who are passionate about motorsport, and I am convinced that they will once again demonstrate their determination to win with this new challenge. The experts in our organization, enriched by their experiences in the FIA championships, will continue to give their best to ensure the victory of the teams financed by the brands of our Group. » Indicated Jean Marc Finot, Director of PSA Motorsport.

On his side, Jean Philippe Imparato, Director of the Peugeot brand, stated that; « The Peugeot brand has always placed the passion for motorsport at the heart of its action with numerous victories in legendary championships. The evolution of the WEC corresponds today to the transition we are experiencing with the electrification of our range and the market launch of high-performance electrified products, foreshadowed by the Concept 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered and developed by PSA Motorsport. More than ever, the Peugeot brand signature -Motion and E-motion- resonates with these initiatives. »

Fans of the lion brand will therefore have to wait until 2020 to learn more about this hybrid Hypercar, but this news will surely make them dream of finally seeing Peugeot again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.