[WEC] Peugeot Sport returning to WEC

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Good point. Could just be two little side wings?

Yes and they're sitting in front/above rear fender holes! They're almost like those giant gurney flaps on the back of the Porsche 908 (among others). I enhanced the shady part of the image a bit.

The diffuser is massive, but seems to lack any strakes?



The central part of the rear deck is now a separate piece, meaning the whole section between the rear arches could be an adjustable splitter. Something I suggested after the initial concept unveiling. If not, the choice of adjustable element is the car's biggest mystery.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Look to me more than winglets - depends what they've obscured....

Originally Posted by Adam43

My preference is that at Le Mans they run one car with and one without! Like all those different Matra back in the day.

Homologation blah blah.

I was trying to convince myself that this is a test for the car, and that they are actually, you know, testing different aero solutions!

[FIRE]

At which track did they test?
Or is it a private Peugeot track?

[canaglia]

I think it's a road nearby the factory where the car is assembled, also 908 had a shakedown on a public road according to pics released by peugeot on september/ocotber 2010

[hondafan37]

[Pandamasque]

I'm under the impression this is some kind of crude early version of the aero which is only there for a shakedown to make sure the car accelerates and stops and all systems work, while the real thing is undergoing wind tunnel testing.

It's funny how, despite very different timelines, were about to see spyshots of Porsche, the updated Toyota, Peugeot, Audi and maybe even Cadillac and Ferrari at pretty much the same time.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by FIRE

At which track did they test?
Or is it a private Peugeot track?

Probably

No details of the run have been released by Peugeot, except that it took place at a proving ground and that one of the seven drivers signed for its 2022 WEC campaign was at the wheel.

She described the location as "a confidential track somewhere" but did not confirm when the run took place.

https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/...cture/6881512/

[deggis]

2022 regs have been published and the wheel+rim size tables are the same as in the 2021 April version but now there's a clarification: cars homologated before 2023 can still choose the F31/R31 option. So in other words no effect on Peugeot.



https://www.fia.com/regulation/category/118

[joeb]

Originally Posted by deggis

2022 regs have been published and the wheel+rim size tables are the same as in the 2021 April version but now there's a clarification: cars homologated before 2023 can still choose the F31/R31 option. So in other words no effect on Peugeot.



https://www.fia.com/regulation/category/118

Is this a way to try and help equalize the 2wd and 4wd cars? Less of a surface patch to deploy the front wheels with?

[Coach Ep]

Wondering when they'll debut the new program, Sebring is unlikely imo due to the short timeline and complicated logistics but might Spa be a more realistic prospect?



https://www.facebook.com/peugeot.spo...type=3&theater

[bella]

not so complicated to be honest, they’d only have to get as much as they possibly can in containers before about early february. they can always airfreight out the last few parts, the cost of an extra carnet wouldn’t blow their budget apart.

[Pandamasque]

I really doubt they'd be ready to load anything into anything before May. Even Spa debut is optimistic considering the car has yet to begin testing, for all we know.

[S griffin]

Yes, I think Peugeot are just doing what most manufacturers do, not revealing anything too soon and trying to iron out any problems behind the scenes. I think they are aiming to get the car ready for Le Mans at the latest

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Wondering when they'll debut the new program, Sebring is unlikely imo due to the short timeline and complicated logistics but might Spa be a more realistic prospect?

https://www.facebook.com/peugeot.spo...type=3&theater

Interesting that they specifically said WEC debut but didn't mention Le Mans.

Originally Posted by S griffin

Yes, I think Peugeot are just doing what most manufacturers do, not revealing anything too soon and trying to iron out any problems behind the scenes. I think they are aiming to get the car ready for Le Mans at the latest

I think a Le Mans debut would be great but they certainly don't want to rush it and have a debut like Nissan. Especially if they are trying something unconventional.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Originally Posted by joeb

Interesting that they specifically said WEC debut but didn't mention Le Mans.

I think a Le Mans debut would be great but they certainly don't want to rush it and have a debut like Nissan. Especially if they are trying something unconventional.

I think right from the announcement that they were aiming for 2022 they were careful not to mention Le Mans. We all know that it would be the ideal place to debut a French car, but you're spot on that we also all know how it worked out for Nissan. No point bringing a car to much fanfare and it being a complete turkey.

I still think the bosses will be keen to push for Le Mans though

[Simmi]

From a PR perspective they will have an almost clean run at Le Mans 2022 if they attend.

'23 they get out-shined by Ferrari, Porsche etc. Just so much new going on that year. Might even get someone like Rossi there too. Hard to stand out.

So to miss this year's race and debut on the other side of the world at Fuji would be a massive marketing own goal. But as others have said, ultimately it's a multi-year programme and you have to always balance performance and PR objectives.

[Adam43]

They can limit the amount of trumpet action themselves. Say the right things…

I’m sure the ACO would like to encourage it.

It’s a long time ago, but they did go in 1991 with a car that wasn’t fit for the 24h.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Simmi

From a PR perspective they will have an almost clean run at Le Mans 2022 if they attend.

'23 they get out-shined by Ferrari, Porsche etc. Just so much new going on that year. Might even get someone like Rossi there too. Hard to stand out.

So to miss this year's race and debut on the other side of the world at Fuji would be a massive marketing own goal. But as others have said, ultimately it's a multi-year programme and you have to always balance performance and PR objectives.

From what I've learned from work experience, PR of big corporations are usually the last one to know important corporate decisions it may happen one day RP is instructed to release a certain statemen and the very next day same PR team has to release a statement that contradicts the previous one because they were last minute warned of more recent changes...
I wouldn't rely much on that, also because we are writing abuot peugeot... the same company that was officially revealing 908 HY4 to the world when board was already deciding which racing program and assets cut off to avoid massive layoffs to keep on getting government financial support.
To me the matter is simple, if peugeot engineers think to be ok with real life tests data, I think they're going to homologate the car in time for LM, which would be great on a PR perspective as well. If real life data from tests won't match with their simulations and 9X8 will need a lot of rework/redesign, I don't think the car will debut this year since once homologated the car can't receive big updates/changes for years.

[S griffin]

It's a good point. Peugeot certainly do not want to be embarrassed at the great race that they have won at before. It's alright for some who have never achieved anything at Le Mans before, but this is a big brand with a some great success in this category of racing.

Certainly I'll be interested to see how good the car is. Hopefully they can get testing before too long and can sort any teething problems that come up. But if not, we might have to wait another year for them to come

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It's a good point. Peugeot certainly do not want to be embarrassed at the great race that they have won at before. It's alright for some who have never achieved anything at Le Mans before, but this is a big brand with a some great success in this category of racing.

Certainly I'll be interested to see how good the car is. Hopefully they can get testing before too long and can sort any teething problems that come up. But if not, we might have to wait another year for them to come

It's more about common sense to me... in 2014 porsche wasn't satisfied of first model of 919 and for 2015 remade the whole car/engine/hybrid from scratch, unfortunately this can't be done anymore... if you homologate a wrong designed/developed car, that's your car for next 4-5 years.

[chernaudi]

You're forgetting the Joker upgrades that are basically allowed between seasons, like what Toyota and Glickenhaus are exploiting right now. The current homolgation rules are primarily intended to prevent the runaway in-season development that we've seen in the past. And even with the Joker rules, I do believe that there's limits there to what can/can't be changed at one time.

Not to mention the 4:1 downforce to drag ratio and overt use of BOP are basically intended to discourage development, anyways.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

You're forgetting the Joker upgrades that are basically allowed between seasons, like what Toyota and Glickenhaus are exploiting right now. The current homolgation rules are primarily intended to prevent the runaway in-season development that we've seen in the past. And even with the Joker rules, I do believe that there's limits there to what can/can't be changed at one time.

Not to mention the 4:1 downforce to drag ratio and overt use of BOP are basically intended to discourage development, anyways.

I know but joker upgrades is just to fix/update details like fuel pump for toyota and bbw for 007, but it won't let peugeot to redesign the whole car, considering we're talking about a car with a radical and way unconventional aero. I still can't understand if they are trying to create the ultimate wing-car or what else...

[deggis]

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ce-at-le-mans/

“They must race one event before,” said Lequien. “So we expect to have them at Spa-Francorchamps.

Lequien added that Peugeot’s requirement to enter at least one race before Le Mans is necessary for Balance of Performance purposes.

Hard to take this ultimatum very seriously.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by deggis

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ce-at-le-mans/
Hard to take this ultimatum very seriously.

I am certain that Toyota will ensure that it is taken seriously.
No way Toyota will allow Peugeot to turn up with a non-BoP machine.

[Sodemo]

Has it been given a rear wing yet?