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PEUGEOT 9X8 Qualifies Strong for the 6 Hours of São Paulo with Best Grid Positions Since 2023

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PEUGEOT 9X8 Qualifies Strong for the 6 Hours of São Paulo with Best Grid Positions Since 2023

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 18, 2025 – Team Peugeot TotalEnergies achieved its best qualifying performance since early 2023, placing both PEUGEOT 9X8 Hypercars on the second and third rows of the grid for the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo, which took place on July 13.

Malthe Jakobsen Impressed in His First Ever WEC Qualifying

At just 21 years old, Danish driver Malthe Jakobsen took part in his first FIA World Endurance Championship qualifying session at Interlagos. Driving the PEUGEOT 9X8 #94, he delivered a standout performance by setting a lap time of 1:22.948, earning fourth position on the starting grid.

“It was my first qualifying session in WEC and I want to thank the team for trusting me and giving me a comfortable and competitive car. I really enjoyed both sessions—it was thrilling to push this Hypercar to the limit with low fuel to go for the best lap possible. Interlagos is a very short track, so it was tricky to get a clear lap in the first session. For Hyperpole, there were eight fewer cars, and I felt great in the car. We finished P4. I'm really satisfied—but the race will be long.”

Paul Di Resta Secured a Solid Sixth Place in Hyperpole

Paul Di Resta also delivered a strong qualifying performance with the PEUGEOT 9X8 #93. After posting a time of 1:23.269 in the initial qualifying, he went on to clock 1:23.101 in the Hyperpole session, securing sixth place on the grid.

“My first session went really well. I had some traffic—without it, maybe I could’ve gone for P1. That gave me confidence for the second session, although I had a bit of understeer. P4 and P6 is a great result for the team and should put us in the fight during the early part of the race. With only two drivers per car this weekend, it’s going to be a long and intense day tomorrow!.”

Peugeot Confirmed Its Competitive Edge Ahead of Race Day

The strong qualifying sessions followed three Free Practice runs focused on refining the PEUGEOT 9X8 setup for the resurfaced Interlagos circuit. The team’s performance raised hopes ahead of the race, as highlighted by Jean-Marc Finot, Senior VP of Stellantis Motorsport:

“Our drivers qualified both PEUGEOT 9X8s for Hyperpole, securing 4th and 6th positions. This is our best qualifying result so far—and it's also Malthe's very first qualifying run! Team Peugeot TotalEnergies puts its trust in young drivers, and the results are meeting our expectations. Paul also had a great session, both in Qualifying and in Hyperpole—kudos to him. Both PEUGEOT 9X8s are well-positioned for the race start tomorrow. From what we saw in Free Practice, our race pace looks solid, which is very promising. We have potential, but nothing is guaranteed—we’ll need to stay focused and match the operational excellence we showed at the last edition of the 24 Hours.”

Fans Followed the Action Live from São Paulo

The 6 Hours of São Paulo kicked off on Sunday, July 13, at 11:30 a.m. local time (4:30 p.m. French time) at the legendary Interlagos circuit. Fans followed every moment through Peugeot Sport’s official platforms:

  • Twitter: @peugeotsport
  • Facebook: @peugeot.sport
  • Instagram: @peugeotsportofficial
  • YouTube: Peugeot Sport Official

All race highlights and exclusive content remain available at www.peugeot-sport.com.

Relive the excitement and discover more on Peugeot Sport’s official channels!

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