[WEC] Peugeot Sport returning to WEC

[kdr]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

It would be under LMP1 regulations which allowed to fix the source of the aforementioned troubles. In LMH they're stuck for 5 years with what they have in race 1.

Yes that is an issue.

[TF110]

I like it. Its different and it has a futuristic look to it. It might not be pretty but its unique. I hope its fast and we see it challenging for wins.

[helgi]

Some fans already ask how will they adjust aero on that thing. If you rely everything onto diffuser only you don't have much room for settings.

[FIRE]

Uniq design.
I like it.

[deggis]

At least a physical mockup car already exists:
https://youtu.be/yd7I4CeNvLg

Jump to 4:00 or so.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by deggis

At least a physical mockup car already exists:
https://youtu.be/yd7I4CeNvLg

Jump to 4:00 or so.

that is a great walkaround! Even though I had seen pictures of the interior, once he opened the door i did gasp a little!

[WyldStallion]

This my friends is why as I have gotten older my interest in sportscar racing gets bigger, whereas Indycar, NASCAR, F1...i could not give two crapolas about anymore.

[PascaLM]

The rear downforce relies only on the diffuser. I read the regulations. Active suspensions and deformable bodywork are forbidden. I bet that the race version of the rear shape is not shown here.

[Spyderman]

Mock up has 90% of what we will find on the actual race car. There will be changes.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

While I do agree, it's a little unusual to unveil what looks like a finished car that may not do its big race for another two years!

<joke> Well it's clearly not finished yet, it hasn't even got a rear wing! </joke>

I'm getting slight GT-R LM Nismo vibes from the front intakes. Could they be through-body tunnels like on the Nissan?

[Sodemo]

Strange to not even have a tea tray wing purely for handling adjustment. To my limited knowledge the only way they can adjust aero then is by adjusting the ride height, which has a knock on effect to other aspects of the car. Odd choice but I guess this is why they design race cars and I fix computers for a living.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Strange to not even have a tea tray wing purely for handling adjustment. To my limited knowledge the only way they can adjust aero then is by adjusting the ride height, which has a knock on effect to other aspects of the car. Odd choice but I guess this is why they design race cars and I fix computers for a living.

“The absence of a rear wing on the Peugeot 9X8 is a major innovative step,” adds Stellantis Motorsport Director Jean-Marc Finot. “We have achieved a degree of aerodynamic efficiency that allows us to do away with this feature. Don’t ask how, though! We have every intention of keeping that a secret as long as we possibly can!”

[CTD]

Adjustable underbody elements?

Inboard aero elements? Like J Jay suggest, it does have similar features to the Nissan GT-R LM and the Audi R15.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by J Jay

I'm getting slight GT-R LM Nismo vibes from the front intakes. Could they be through-body tunnels like on the Nissan?

I was thinking the same. But then there are humongous air inlets on top of the bodywork just ahead of the rear axle. Unless that's for cooling, I'm thinking that entire rear decklid could be in effect a giant airfoil sitting right above the diffuser.

Originally Posted by PascaLM

The rear downforce relies only on the diffuser. I read the regulations. Active suspensions and deformable bodywork are forbidden. I bet that the race version of the rear shape is not shown here.

As regards to aero balance adjustments. Right now the black bodywork at the back is 1-piece. But if they separate the horizontal section from the vertical side vanes, it can become an adjustable spoiler, Porsche 910-style.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by J Jay

<joke> Well it's clearly not finished yet, it hasn't even got a rear wing! </joke>

I'm getting slight GT-R LM Nismo vibes from the front intakes. Could they be through-body tunnels like on the Nissan?

I had the same thoughts, but i also liked that car and we saw how that worked out!

Nissan is also a good example of why you don't rush to get the car to Le Mans if it isn't 100% ready.

[Adam43]

Comparison to Nissan.

Ouch.

[Pandamasque]

B Sport on 9X8:
https://youtu.be/ojnvRedzQBc

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

B Sport on 9X8:
https://youtu.be/ojnvRedzQBc

well yeah, the fact the big diffuser lets 9X8 reach the maxium N of downforce allowed by the 4:1 design rule without using a rear wing, doesn't automatically mean it makes the car aero balanced too, but guess it's too premature to speculate about considering 9X8 is still a WIP car

[S griffin]

Looks certainly radical. We'll see how it goes on the track. Certainly might turn a few heads if it can be competitive from the off

[seanyb505]

Looks different, and not horribly proportioned. I appreciate the effort. We'll see if it pulls a Nissan and holds up the P2s in the corners.

First thing I thought when I saw no wing was that Peugeot accident at 2008 Le Mans test. "Oh there's going to be a lot of back ends trying to become the front ends if they can't generate significant downforce."

Really looking forward to the top speeds though.

[PascaLM]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

Looks different, and not horribly proportioned. I appreciate the effort. We'll see if it pulls a Nissan and holds up the P2s in the corners.

First thing I thought when I saw no wing was that Peugeot accident at 2008 Le Mans test. "Oh there's going to be a lot of back ends trying to become the front ends if they can't generate significant downforce."

Really looking forward to the top speeds though.

And Duval will remember his crash with the Audi at the same place in 2014. So he will be very aware of the balance of the car and its setup.

[Adam43]

While I did laugh at a comparison to the Nissan. Poor Nissan, good they tried, but bad they failed. There is no way the Peugeot will be that bad in corners! I still shudder watching that thing try to navigate the Ford chicane.

But I think it might be harsh, and I don’t think any of us are being that serious here, to compare it to the Nissan. The current rules do seem to allow this approach as a viable option.

[Mike E]

Ah, now I see it!

https://twitter.com/SpeedSportLife/s...374849025?s=19

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Adam43

While I did laugh at a comparison to the Nissan. Poor Nissan, good they tried, but bad they failed. There is no way the Peugeot will be that bad in corners! I still shudder watching that thing try to navigate the Ford chicane.

Wasn't that due to gearbox reliability concerns or something like that, drivers were told to avoid curbs? Not to mention that FWD requires different racing lines that would probably stand out as weird next to RWD cars. That aside, the car was probably too underpowered to even assess the handling.

[Adam43]

It was just awful in every way. You could see it in the way it handled. It seemed loose and with no front end at different points in the same corner. A result of the FWD and set-up not marrying. It wasn’t ready.

It was so slow compared to anything else - cars from other classes too. Mediocre LMP2 cars would be all over it and have to pull out to try and get past on the exit and it would take an age before the poor Nissan drivers could get the power down out of the corner. Then when they did - boom! - the Nissan would shoot off. Must have been very frustrating for the other car. Slowed down, off line and then destroyed once the Nissan could use he power.

Edit: for the nostalgia Nissan at Le Mans in 2015.

/off topic. The Peugeot will be better!