SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Feb. 23, 2025 – The official Prologue for the 2025 FIA WEC Championship concluded with Team Peugeot TotalEnergies completing crucial testing at the Losail International Circuit. With approximately fourteen hours of track time, split into two daytime and two nighttime sessions, the team gathered vital data in preparation for the upcoming 1812 km Qatar race.
Thirty-six cars, including eighteen Hypercar prototypes, participated in the Prologue, providing a competitive environment for the teams to assess their vehicles. Team Peugeot TotalEnergies’ six drivers, behind the wheel of the PEUGEOT 9X8, covered a total of 3586 kilometers under varied track conditions. This extensive running allowed them to refine prototype setups and evaluate tire strategies.
Testing and Performance
Jean-Eric Vergne (#93) and Stoffel Vandoorne (#94) each completed multiple consecutive stints, demonstrating the car's endurance and reliability. "We did double stints with the medium and hard tires," confirms Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport. "We saw that the track conditions changed a lot, and we expect the temperatures to be even cooler for the race." This observation highlights the team's focus on adapting to changing environmental factors and optimizing tire performance.
Despite several red flags and Full Course Yellows caused by on-track incidents, Mikkel Jensen, Paul di Resta, Malthe Jakobsen, and Loïc Duval were able to complete numerous laps, adhering to the testing program outlined for the Prologue. "These four sessions really tested the crews and the cars with a lot of track time," summarizes Olivier Jansonnie. "We now have three days to analyze the data collected from each car, cross-reference the information, assess the technical results, and prepare the two PEUGEOT 9X8s for Wednesday’s free practice."
Driver Feedback and Preparations
The drivers provided valuable feedback on the PEUGEOT 9X8's performance and handling.
- Stoffel Vandoorne (PEUGEOT 9X8 #94): "Compared to last year, the feeling is a little different on this circuit with the PEUGEOT 9X8 2024 evolution. We had a good Prologue and worked well on the car/tire package to prepare for the race," said the Belgian driver.
- Loïc Duval (PEUGEOT 9X8 #94): "We’ve made good progress compared to our January tests. We tested a lot of things in different conditions, and I think we’ve definitely taken a step forward compared to 2024."
- Jean-Eric Vergne (PEUGEOT 9X8 #93): "The car is performing quite well. We are mid-grid but we can still improve the car for next week. It could be a good race weekend for us."
- Paul di Resta (PEUGEOT 9X8 #93): "It’s great to be back in Qatar, a circuit I enjoy. We followed the program we had planned for the Prologue. The competition is set to be intense, as always in WEC, and we know we’ll need to be consistent in the race."
Looking Ahead
The team's focus now shifts to analyzing the extensive data collected during the Prologue. This analysis will inform the final preparations for the two PEUGEOT 9X8s ahead of Wednesday’s free practice. The 1812 km Qatar race (approximately 10 hours of racing) will start on Friday, February 28, at 14:00 local time (12:00 French time). The team aims to utilize the insights gained from the Prologue to optimize their performance and achieve a competitive result in the race.
For more information visit.