SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 18, 2025 – Team Peugeot TotalEnergies returned to Brazil with high hopes for the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo, eager to bounce back after the challenging 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite not reaping the rewards of their Le Mans efforts, the French team showed unwavering determination as they tackled the legendary Interlagos circuit, marking the start of the FIA World Endurance Championship's overseas season.
Pushing Forward After Le Mans
The São Paulo race signaled a fresh start for the second half of the season, and Team Peugeot TotalEnergies embraced the opportunity to confirm the progress glimpsed earlier in the year. The iconic Autódromo José Carlos Pace — twisting between São Paulo’s Guarapiranga and Billings lakes — once again tested the endurance and precision of every team.
Although the team had finished eighth with the PEUGEOT 9X8 #93 last year, this time they aimed for a stronger result, armed with valuable experience on the unique 4.309 km circuit.
“We were discovering this unique and historic Interlagos circuit,” said Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport. “It’s a very varied track with fast sections and a tighter, twistier part. The circuit has been partially resurfaced since last year’s race. Teams used different tire strategies, and we didn’t have full control of things on our side during that race! We’ll be better prepared this year.”
A New Driver Line-up for São Paulo
Due to a clash with the FIA Formula E World Championship’s Berlin E-Prix, the team adjusted its driver roster. Paul Di Resta and Mikkel Jensen took charge of the PEUGEOT 9X8 #93, while Loïc Duval and Malthe Jakobsen handled the #94. Test driver Théo Pourchaire also traveled to Brazil as a backup.
Paul Di Resta shared his excitement before the race: “I’m looking forward to returning to Interlagos, where I’ve raced in Formula 1 and last year in Hypercar. It’s a special circuit, notably because it runs counter-clockwise – it’s a big challenge. I hope we can rediscover our performance level from Spa-Francorchamps and secure a strong result. With JEV racing in Berlin, there’ll just be the two of us sharing the #93, so we’ll get more driving time. Everyone’s well rested after Le Mans and we’re ready to kick off the second half of the championship.”
For Malthe Jakobsen, the event marked his debut at the iconic circuit. “This will be my first time at Interlagos, such a legendary circuit – I can’t wait. I’ve been preparing in the simulator, which is a very valuable tool since our track time before the race is quite limited. The weather could also play a disruptive role. Even though our race pace wasn’t strong enough at Le Mans, the team performed really well operationally over the ten days. We’re ready for São Paulo and the second half of the season.”
Battling Through the São Paulo Challenge
Both PEUGEOT 9X8s hit the track on July 11 for practice sessions, pushing hard through qualifying and the thrilling Hyperpole shootout. The race itself began on July 13 at 1:30 PM local time, marking the fifth round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Jean-Marc Finot, Senior VP of Stellantis Motorsport, reflected on the team’s mindset: “Our goal is to have a strong second half of the season, starting with São Paulo where we’ll work on improving our race pace to stay in the fight, like we did in Spa-Francorchamps. We also need to maintain the same level of operational excellence we showed at Le Mans and apply Brazil’s national motto to ourselves: ‘Ordem e Progresso’, ‘Order and Progress’.”
A Season of Resilience and Determination
Though the São Paulo round posed its usual set of challenges, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies demonstrated their relentless spirit and commitment to progress. The team leaves Brazil with valuable insights, energized for the remaining races of the FIA WEC season.
Learn more about Team Peugeot TotalEnergies at www.peugeot-sport.com.