SHERIDAN, WYOMING – November 06, 2024– Team Peugeot TotalEnergies concluded their FIA World Endurance Championship season with a hard-fought podium finish in Bahrain, demonstrating resilience and a strong race strategy despite a challenging start to the year.
The team's #93 PEUGEOT 9X8, driven by Nico Müller and Mikkel Jensen, secured a third-place finish after starting at the back of the grid due to cancelled qualifying times. This impressive comeback showcased the car's pace and the team's strategic prowess.
"It was a hard race but we managed to secure a superb result in the end," said Nico Müller. "We started at the back of the grid because our qualifying times were cancelled, but we managed to produce a stunning comeback to finish on the podium!"
The team's tire strategy proved to be a key factor in their success. Mikkel Jensen highlighted the importance of this strategy in his remarks: "My final stint was really difficult, because it was fairly tricky on track with the Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car periods, a bit like in Fuji. My tyres were really good on the first stint. The team had a great tyre strategy and we managed the tyres really well to keep fresh rubber for the closing stages of the race. We didn't expect to finish on the podium this evening, so thanks to the entire team.”
While the #93 car celebrated success, the #94 PEUGEOT 9X8, driven by Paul di Resta, faced a technical issue towards the end of the race. Despite this setback, di Resta remained optimistic: “The tyre strategy was central to discussions this weekend. We had a very good race package, so it’s a shame to have had a technical issue towards the end of the race. It has been a tough year, but it’s ended on a high note. We’re already working on next year’s championship and we’ll come back stronger.”
Jean-Marc Finot, Stellantis Motorsport Senior VP, acknowledged the significance of the podium finish in the context of a competitive championship: "Although it was due to a decision by the stewards, finishing the season on the podium is a significant accomplishment in this particularly competitive championship. It’s unfortunate, however, that the timing didn’t allow Team Peugeot TotalEnergies to fully enjoy the joy of the podium ceremony. The season began under challenging conditions with a car that took time to find its rhythm, but the team never gave up, and we are pleased to end the season with a positive result that marks continuous progress. However, this podium should only be a step toward more consistent results in the top positions.”
The podium finish in Bahrain provides a much-needed boost for Team Peugeot TotalEnergies as they look ahead to the 2025 season. With valuable lessons learned and a determined spirit, the team is poised to build on this success and challenge for consistent top positions in the future.