Official: Vandoorne signs with Peugeot in WEC for 2024
Like other F1 drivers, Stoffel Vandoorne is going to be involved full-time in endurance racing. The Belgian has been confirmed by Peugeot, replacing Gustavo Menezes on car #94.
Many former F1 drivers have found happiness in endurance racing: Kamui Kobayashi, Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Jean-Eric Vergne, Paul di Resta… they will soon be joined by a name that has been fuelling rumors for some time: Stoffel Vandoorne, who recently drove the 9X8 at the 6 Hours of Fuji.
The 31-year-old Belgian will team up with Loïc Duval and Nico Muller in the driver’s seat of the Peugeot No. 94, replacing American Gustavo Menezes.
Vandoorne has taken part in 41 Formula 1 Grand Prix races, all with McLaren, but he has never been able to confirm his impressive F2 title which he won in 2015. This arrival at Peugeot as an official driver can only delight him!
« I am very happy to join the team as an official driver starting from the 2024 season. My goal was clearly to come back to this championship, and even more so now with the Hypercar category, made up of many manufacturers. Having the opportunity to compete in the overall standings and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is fantastic because I think it’s a dream for many drivers,” he declared in a statement.
Fierce competition
Sports car enthusiasts must pinch themselves to believe it: ten manufacturers, including Peugeot, will be part of the Hypercar category, with the goal of winning the overall rankings.
The 9X8 did not have an easy start, but was able to find consolation on several occasions: on one hand, by fighting for the overall lead at Le Mans this year, in a crazy race; on the other hand, thanks to the podium finish in Monza, achieved after leading the Lombard 6-hour race.
The expectations are high on Peugeot’s side, who would be working on a modification of their LMH concept. The help of a driver of Stoffel Vandoorne’s caliber will undoubtedly be beneficial, and Jean-Marc Finot, the head of Stellantis Motorsport, is very proud of it.
« It is a great pride to promote Stoffel Vandoorne within the Team Peugeot TotalEnergies. As he demonstrated at Fuji, his team spirit, performance, and consistency are perfectly in line with those of his teammates. His ability to immediately find the rhythm confirms the complementarity of the FIA Formula E and WEC championships and the interest for all to have drivers who can participate in both formulas. »
Vandoorne was crowned the 2021-2022 Formula E World Champion with Mercedes and could, like Nyck de Vries, continue a program in the 100% electric discipline. However, information on this subject is still lacking.
