Peugeot encouraged by first test of 2027-spec 9x8 Hypercar

Peugeot TotalEnergies' recent test at Paul Ricard with its 2027-spec 9X8 was "very positive" according to program boss Emmanuel Esnault.

Speaking with reporters at COTA ahead of this weekend's Lone Star Le Mans event, he shared his reaction to the first run of the new-look LMH, which was on track in July as part of an ongoing assessment of the evolutions the French brand has developed.

During the test, five drivers shared the wheel, with Loic Duval, Théo Pourchaire, Nick Cassidy and Jean-Eric Vergne all sampling the updated car.

"It was a busy summer, but an interesting summer," Esnault said. "It brings a smile to faces, to be honest, because it was a positive, very positive session. We covered more than 1,600 kilometers in two days, which is very significant. It allows you to gather some important data straight away. So this was positive, plus the feedback from the drivers, which is also quite positive.

"We don't want to be overoptimistic. I mean, between having this situation and transforming the car into a winning car, there is a lot to do. But at least we have the feeling we have eradicated some issues on the current car, which is good."

Esnault wouldn't divulge any specific details about the 2027 package, stressing that there's still work to do to confirm the scope of the changes that will be approved by the rulemakers and signed off.

"We are assessing different specifications, so we won't communicate until it's homologated," he added. "It's a long process, and we want to make sure that when we communicate the content of the package, it's fully clear and aligned with what can be homologated.

"The obvious part is the new aerodynamic package; it's clear, you can see it, but there are other things to eradicate issues we've had with the car to improve the performance and drivability."

Peugeot held back as many test days as possible to maximize time in the lead-up to homologation for 2027. But Esnault admits it hurt the team's competitiveness in 2026, as the team sacrificed limited running on the 2026-spec Michelin tires in favour of a more comprehensive program for the next generation of its car.

"We are not in a position to fight for the championship or for regular wins," he said, "so it's more seen as an opportunity to consolidate our program in the future.

"I think it's less painful compared to our competitors. At the moment, it does not bring any exceptional challenges, except sometimes in terms of logistics or staffing rotation. It's manageable.

"We used the minimum of our allocated test days before the start of the season to understand the 2026 tires a bit, and have an endurance test before Le Mans. We invested in 2026 on purpose to maximize the number of test days for the 2027 program. The biggest impact is that some people, before we started the season, had the chance to test the new tires at Daytona and Sebring."

On the other side of the coin, Peugeot's journey to 2027 has been aided by the calendar change in the wake of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The switch to racing at Barcelona and Monza instead of Qatar and Bahrain is seen as a net positive for the brand on two fronts.

"From a brand perspective it's more interesting because Peugeot is far more involved in Europe compared to the Middle East," Esnault said. "In terms of activation and partners, it's more attractive, and logistically it makes our life easier."

The months ahead are set to be busy as Peugeot heads towards homologation. It plans to test at Portimao, Silverstone and Le Castellet in the coming months, and is currently "shaping" its test schedule for 2027 with the car.