Peugeot encouraged after latest test with 2027-spec 9X8

Peugeot TotalEnergies' 2027-spec 9X8 has taken another key step towards homologation, with the team completing a successful endurance test at Portimão last week.

Team boss Emmanuel Esnault, who described the car’s first outing at Le Castellet as “very positive”, remains realistic but also upbeat about the potential of the changes after the test in Portugal, telling reporters in Fuji that the car has shown it has “a good base to work with”.

“It’s a work in progress,” he continued. “They are very complex cars, and they require a big investment, lots of time in terms of aerodynamic study, simulation, and testing on track. We are reasonably confident, but based on the past four years, we can’t underestimate the level of competition.”

During the test, which featured a full roster of drivers, with Loic Duval, Jean-Eric Vergne, Nick Cassidy, Paul Di Resta, 2026 test and development driver Alex Quinn and new signing Robert Shwartzman all taking turns at the wheel, the team completed “just a bit below 2,000 kilometers.” The drivers praised the car’s ability to absorb bumps and curbs, as well as its aerodynamic consistency and stability.

“The first test was 1,600 (kilometres), so it’s good (to get closer to 2,000),” Esnault noted. “It was a similar package with some logical updates (after Paul Ricard) and small evos. And there are one or two topics identified as points of attention to make sure they will not affect reliability. There are one or two topics we need to work on.”

The test also presented the Peugeot team with its first chance to work with Shwartzman, who was named as a Hypercar driver for 2027 earlier this month. During the selection process, Esnault explained that he felt his breadth of experience in recent years made securing his signature “an opportunity not to miss”.

“He's got great experience in the sense of having mixed success, showing his ability to get used to a new environment,” he said. “I mean, he was successful in European single-seaters, with F3 and F2, working with big organizations. As a reserve driver, he did lots of simulator work and test sessions for them. Then he moved to Hypercar. He won a race. What he delivered in his very first year, and delivering the pole at the Indy 500 for the very first time he was putting his feet on an oval track, was mega.

“Also, on the human side, I had the chance to meet him in the past, and he does tick many boxes, and he showed real interest and enthusiasm in our project.”

Next on the test schedule is a run at Silverstone next month, before a "big one" at Paul Ricard, where Peugeot plans to test the 2027 car back-to-back with the current one.

Next season seemingly can’t come soon enough for Peugeot's Hypercar effort, as the current season has proven to be another grind, yet three races remain. Thankfully, the 6 Hours of Fuji is up next on Sunday, the race where the team secured its best result last season: second place. There’s real hope internally that a repeat is possible.

“It’s quite smooth, there’s a long straight, and it suits the package we have at the moment,” Esnault said. “It’s the opposite of Austin and Imola, typically. Here it’s less important to have changing weather conditions to create the opportunity.

“We think this is the one. Potentially at Monza too, to be confirmed. But here at the moment, that’s where we can potentially perform the most.”