Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has confirmed the final composition of its two Hypercar driver line-ups for the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) as the French manufacturer seeks to build on its strong late-season momentum.
After a series of encouraging results toward the end of 2025, Peugeot enters the new campaign with renewed confidence in both its drivers and its evolving 9X8 prototype.
Strong finish fuels confidence
Peugeot emerged as one of the standout performers during the closing stages of the 2025 season. The #94 Peugeot 9X8 secured a third-place finish at Circuit of the Americas, demonstrating the pace the team had steadily developed throughout the year.
Just three weeks later, the sister #93 car delivered an even stronger result by finishing second at Fuji. That podium underlined the progress the French marque had made after months of incremental improvements.
With that momentum in mind, the team has carefully structured its driver pairings for the upcoming season.
Cassidy and Vandoorne Join Di Resta in #93 as Pourchaire steps up in #94 with Peugeot for 2026 WEC campaign
For 2026, Paul Di Resta will remain part of the #93 Peugeot 9X8 line-up. The experienced Scottish driver will join Formula E contender Nick Cassidy and Belgian racer Stoffel Vandoorne.
Vandoorne transitions from the #94 entry, bringing valuable experience within the Peugeot Hypercar programme. The trio combines endurance expertise with single-seater pedigree, creating a versatile line-up designed to deliver strong performances throughout race weekends.
Meanwhile, the #94 Peugeot 9X8 will feature Loïc Duval and Malthe Jakobsen alongside rising French star Théo Pourchaire.
Pourchaire made his competitive FIA World Endurance Championship debut during the 2025 season finale in Bahrain, where he impressed the team with his pace and adaptability. His promotion to a full-time Hypercar role reflects Peugeot’s commitment to nurturing young talent while maintaining a solid foundation of experienced drivers.
Team Peugeot TotalEnergies Technical Director Olivier Jansonnie emphasised that the team designed both driver trios with careful consideration of their respective strengths.
“Loïc and Paul are strong pillars of the team and will play a key role in anchoring each crew,” the Frenchman explained. “Both line-ups offer an excellent balance, combining drivers who are particularly strong at race starts with others who excel in qualifying. This structure has been designed with a long-term perspective in mind, while providing the adaptability required to perform across all race conditions, which is essential given the level of competition in FIA WEC.”
Leadership changes within the programme
At the same time, Peugeot’s motorsport programme is undergoing an important leadership transition.
Jansonnie will assume a new role as Head of Stellantis Motorsport in February following the retirement of Jean-Marc Finot. In preparation for that shift, Peugeot recently appointed Emmanuel Esnault as Team Principal for its Hypercar programme.
Esnault brings more than three decades of experience across multiple forms of motorsport, including senior technical roles with McLaren in Formula 1 and Iron Lynx in endurance racing.
“This is a major and highly motivating project, with a manufacturer that is fully committed at the highest international level,” commented the Frenchman, whose remit will be to oversee all of the squad’s operational activities. “I am fully aware of the great responsibility of this role, as well as the rich heritage Peugeot carries in endurance racing, and it is up to us to be worthy of that and meet the brand’s objectives. There is tremendous potential in this project, and I am convinced we have everything we need to do things right and progress together.”
Outgoing Stellantis Motorsport Director Jean-Marc Finot also expressed confidence in Esnault’s leadership as the programme enters its next phase.
“Emmanuel’s experience will be essential in shaping and implementing our strategic approach, as he takes on the challenge of pursuing the ambitious goals set by the Peugeot brand,” added Finot. “In a championship where manufacturer competition is incredibly intense and the grid is more competitive than ever, we have full confidence in his ability to lead the team forward and support our continued progression.”
Peugeot building toward a competitive 2026 WEC season
With a balanced driver line-up and renewed leadership structure, Peugeot aims to translate its recent progress into consistent results throughout the 2026 FIA WEC season.
As the Hypercar field continues to expand and competition intensifies, the French manufacturer believes its combination of experience, youth and technical expertise will allow the team to push closer to the front of the grid.
