6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, a first for Team PEUGEOT TotalEnergies

• The reliability of the PEUGEOT 9X8s was clearly improving at the 6 Hours of Portimão

• First time on the Belgian circuit for Team PEUGEOT TotalEnergies

• Stoffel Vandoorne, Peugeot Sport reserve driver present during the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

The TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, will take place on April 28 and 29. The Belgian circuit, in the heart of the Ardennes forest, is one of the legendary motorsport circuits and is recognized for its hilly layout, its fast turns and its famous Raidillon.

This will be the very first appearance of the PEUGEOT 9X8 on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, and as Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport, explains: “It’s a circuit that is unlike any other, only the we don’t know and where we have never ridden. We therefore expect to have to find out during free practice. We will have to be good at anticipating, at quickly seeing the optimum on a new track and in conditions which could be very different from those in Portimão. The weather is generally uncertain and more complicated to manage in Spa. It’s a fantastic circuit and we are all very motivated to discover it.”

After a first Top 5 for Team Peugeot TotalEnergies last weekend, the objective will be to maintain the level of reliability of the PEUGEOT 9X8 #93 and #94 seen at Portimao, for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the last rehearsal before the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans next June.

Stoffel Vandoorne, Peugeot Sport reserve driver will be present at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps to support Team Peugeot TotalEnergies and bring all his experience of this circuit that he knows so well.

Find the two PEUGEOT 9X8s on track at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps from Thursday April 27 for two free practice sessions. Qualifying will take place on Friday April 28 at 5:50 p.m. for the premier category and finally the start of the race will be given on April 29 at 12:45 p.m.

THEY SAID

Christian Deltombes – Team Manager Team Peugeot TotalEnergies:

“Obviously Spa is a special event for many of us, it is an iconic circuit which has particularities both appreciated and feared by the teams. The micro-climate of Spa adds a little spice.

The Portimao weekend allowed us to find a little serenity within the team. Sebring was a beneficial electric shock for everyone. The team, as a whole, can be proud to have taken it the “right way”. The pit stops were particularly successful with the 2nd and 3rd best pit stops in the entire field.

We will do everything to confirm this good dynamic at Spa even if we are aware of the work that remains to be accomplished. The challenge is all the more important as the time between Portimao and Spa was very short. “

Jean-Éric Vergne – PEUGEOT #93:

“We took an important step in Portimão in terms of reliability. Apart from the problem at the start, we did not encounter any problems during the race with our car. We need to further improve our performance and as long as we take steps in the right direction, race after race, it will be positive. Spa is probably my favorite circuit on the calendar. I have driven quite a few different cars there, it is a fantastic circuit and I have very good memories there -low, I hope to continue my momentum with Peugeot Sport. The changing weather will be the trap to avoid, as well as the cold for the tires. I think that the tire strategy will be one of the key elements for this race. Spa is also the last race before Le Mans, it will be a good preparation especially thanks to the long straight which will allow us to see where we are compared to the other competitors in terms of top speed, in a straight line. And we will therefore be able to see whether we need to change things or not before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Spa is therefore a very important race for the team. “

Gustavo Menezes – PEUGEOT #94

“We left Portimão satisfied with the progress made. Of course, we are not yet where we would like to be but it takes time and the most important thing is that we are progressing step by step. We have a plan, we know where we want to go, there is no precise timetable but the important thing is that race after race we move forward and we improve. In Portimão, our reliability was quite good despite a technical problem with a regulatory transmission sensor “The team performed the race perfectly well, the mechanics and engineers have worked hard since Sebring and this can be seen with the performance, particularly during the pitstops. We will continue to work on this momentum for Spa in order to to be ready for Le Mans. The work has already started and we can’t wait to be at Spa in a few days.“