Why Peugeot had no choice but to revamp its radical Le Mans Hypercar

OPINION: Peugeot has revealed a heavily-revised version of its 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar after deciding to give up the unequal struggle with its original wingless design. Rather than the result of design errors or over-ambition, the French manufacturer was undone by changes in the regulations that rendered its concept uncompetitive at many of the circuits on the World Endurance Championship calendar

It somehow seemed incongruous given what we knew was around the corner. The sight of a Peugeot heading the chase of the leader over a full race distance in the World Endurance Championship season-opener in Qatar earlier this month was a first and also a bit strange.

That was because it was the soon-to-be-replaced original version of the 9X8, a car that had previously only shown flashes of speed, putting in the starring performance. But its pace in the desert proved exactly why the French manufacturer had no choice but to abandon the wingless concept of its original Le Mans Hypercar.

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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.