SHERIDAN, WYOMING – October 29, 2024 – After a promising performance in São Paulo and a rejuvenating summer break, Team Peugeot TotalEnergies is ready to hit the track again as the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) resumes at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. [cite: 4, 5]
This will be the French team's debut at the six-hour Lone Star Le Mans race, which returned to the FIA WEC calendar in 2020. [cite: 4, 5] The team got a taste of the Texan track during a test session in late July, familiarizing themselves with the unique challenges it presents. [cite: 5, 6]
"The team was able to try out the circuit alongside its fellow competitors, thus providing good preparation for the race," said a team representative. "COTA is a unique track. It is very bumpy, has some big elevation changes, and there are both very fast and much slower corners. It’ll be a challenge to find the right set-up for the many bumpy sections." [cite: 6, 7]
COTA: A Unique Challenge
The Circuit of The Americas is known for its demanding layout, featuring a mix of high-speed corners, elevation changes, and technical sections. [cite: 6, 7] The track's bumpy surface adds another layer of complexity, making it crucial for teams to find the right balance and setup for their cars.
"It remains very bumpy, despite being resurfaced several times, as it was built on unstable, loose ground," said Mikkel Jensen, driver of the no. 93 PEUGEOT 9X8. "It's a unique track. It'll be a real challenge to find the right set-up for the many bumpy sections. São Paulo was a positive result for the team, so I hope that we'll be able to kick on from that in the second part of the season." [cite: 12, 13, 14]
Team Peugeot TotalEnergies: Ready to Race
The team is eager to build on their positive result in São Paulo and continue their momentum in the second half of the season. [cite: 14] They have used the summer break to recharge and prepare for the challenges ahead.
"We tested in Austin at the end of July and the session went well," said Paul di Resta, driver of the no. 94 PEUGEOT 9X8. "It's a really demanding and very bumpy circuit with some fast-sweeping turns and other slower corners. It'll be tricky to find the right balance. But we've had a chance to recharge the batteries, and we can't wait to go racing again." [cite: 15, 16]
The Lone Star Le Mans promises to be an exciting race, with Team Peugeot TotalEnergies aiming for a strong performance against a competitive field. The team's dedication and the unique capabilities of the PEUGEOT 9X8 hypercar are sure to make them a force to be reckoned with.