SHERIDAN, WYOMING – June 15, 2025 – As the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans entered its mesmerizing nighttime phase, the two PEUGEOT 9X8 Hypercars held their own with strategic brilliance and determined driving, delighting motorsport fans and boosting team morale.
With a quarter of the race behind them, the #94 and #93 PEUGEOT 9X8 cars occupy the 9th and 21st positions respectively, showing that endurance, not just speed, defines this iconic motorsport battle.
Pushing Through with Smart Strategy and Grit
The #94 car, driven by Loïc Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, and Stoffel Vandoorne, has made significant progress from its 17th-place start, regularly appearing in the top 10. The secret? A calculated approach to pit stops and tire management.
“We built our strategy based on our race pace. We chose to extend the stints, which saved us one pit stop after six hours of racing. That’s a positive for the #94, which is now just behind the pole-sitting car. Thanks to the offset pit stops, it has even led the race a few times, which is always great for team morale and for our PEUGEOT fans,” said Jean-Marc Finot, Senior VP of Stellantis Motorsport.
The #94’s approach—pushing one lap longer per stint than most rivals—has helped minimize time lost in pit lanes, a move that could prove decisive in the long run.
Resilience on the Road to Recovery
The #93 car, piloted by Paul Di Resta, Jean-Eric Vergne, and Mikkel Jensen, faced early setbacks. After skillfully navigating the opening lap, Di Resta was forced into a gravel trap while avoiding a GT3 car, causing damage that demanded swift pit repairs.
Despite this, the team’s rapid response and Di Resta’s determination kept the fight alive. “My first stint was OK apart from going into the gravel trap. That GT3 was right in the middle of the track at the Porsche Curves, and to avoid it, I lost the rear… It’s my fault, but in our position, we have to take some risks,” he admitted.
Jean-Eric Vergne and Mikkel Jensen took over with powerful stints—Jensen notably completing a grueling triple stint covering over 500 km—to pull the #93 back into the competitive mix.
Drivers Stay Positive and Focused
Every member of the Peugeot team remains confident in the evolving race strategy. Stoffel Vandoorne of the #94 remarked, “I did my first double stint in the race. We’re on a slightly different strategy with one extra lap per stint, hoping that in the end, we’ll spend less time in the pits than our rivals… We hope this strategy will pay off.”
Malthe Jakobsen echoed that optimism: “Loïc did a good job at the start. We’re managing the medium tires well so far. Our position varies from P6 to P15 because of our offset refueling strategy. Our competitors are faster, but they have to stop more often for fuel. We’ll see how it ends.”
Nightfall Brings Hope for Peugeot Fans
As darkness descends on Le Mans, fans around the world continue to cheer for Peugeot’s bold comeback strategy and the smooth execution by Team Peugeot TotalEnergies. From managing tricky traffic scenarios to executing precise pit stops and pushing long stints on medium tires, the team exemplifies endurance racing at its finest.
The race is far from over—but with such resilient drivers, a clever pit stop plan, and unwavering determination, Peugeot’s 9X8s remain cars to watch as the magic of Le Mans continues through the night.
Learn more at www.peugeot-sport.com