Why Peugeot couldn't afford to take a Le Mans gamble in 2022

Ahead of the much-anticipated arrival of its new 9X8 Hypercar, Peugeot revealed that it would not be entering this year's Le Mans 24 Hours with its incoming machinery. Although development restrictions for homologated cars are partially responsible, the French marque can draw on its own lessons from its history in sportscars

Gary Watkins Feb 28, 2022, 2:49 PM

Upd: Mar 1, 2022, 2:42 AM

Peugeot won’t be going to the Le Mans 24 Hours this year with its avant-garde 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar. Should you be surprised? Not if you have already gleaned an understanding of how the twin rule sets allowing entry into the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA Sportscar Championship work.

That’s an understanding of an entirely new philosophy at the pinnacle of international sportscar racing. The LMH and sister LMDh formulae are non-development categories. They have been framed that way in the name of cost reduction, and a massive one at that.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.