This June will mark 100 years since Peugeot first raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a landmark the French manufacturer is celebrating with renewed determination. After decades of endurance racing, Peugeot is aiming to turn promising performances into victories with its 9X8 Hypercar in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The team has arrived at this milestone with momentum from the previous season and a bold new look that signals ambition both on and off the track.
The unveiling of the 2026 livery highlights a fusion of heritage and technology, with Peugeot paying tribute to its iconic GTi performance line while embracing cutting-edge endurance racing design. The company’s leadership is confident the combination of car, team, and drivers positions them for a breakthrough season.
Bold new livery marks new chapter
Team Peugeot TotalEnergies revealed the 9X8’s dramatic red, white, and black livery last month in February, showcasing a dynamic reinterpretation of the brand’s famous three-claw motif. The design features sweeping gradients that evoke speed and constant motion while symbolising the data-driven precision required in modern endurance racing.
Alain Favey, CEO of Peugeot, described the visual identity as a perfect representation of the team’s ambition. “The new car looks amazing – very spectacular, very bold and a great collaboration between our design and motorsport teams,” he said. “I think it is a good symbol of the ambition here at Peugeot. Motorsport perfectly reflects Peugeot’s values and is part of our DNA – it has been for many, many years. Back in 1926, Peugeot participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time. One hundred years and three victories later, we will celebrate our centenary in the event. Le Mans is our home round and it’s very important for us to be strong there. It’s more than a race – it’s a legend.
“Endurance represents really everything that Peugeot is about. It’s kind of the meeting-point between heritage and cutting-edge technology, and going into 2026, we have good momentum. Our goal is to fight for victory with consistency and determination. We’re ready to roar!”
The new livery draws inspiration from the Peugeot 205 GTi, a legendary model that cemented the company’s performance credentials in the 1980s. The design celebrates Peugeot’s heritage while emphasising the modern engineering that defines the 9X8 Hypercar programme.
Momentum from 2025 fuels optimism as Peugeot prepares for 2026 WEC campaign
Peugeot enters 2026 buoyed by a strong finish to the 2025 WEC season. The #94 and #93 9X8 Hypercars claimed third and fourth at the Circuit of the Americas, and the #93 car came within eight seconds of winning the series’ 100th race at Fuji Speedway. This performance has injected confidence into both the engineering and driver teams.
“It has been a relentless effort by everybody at Satory over the winter to prepare for this season,” explained Team Principal Emmanuel Esnault. “We have been working on our organisation and our processes, and to maximise the performance potential of this car. We are confident that we are ready, and we are keen to continue the momentum we started to build at the end of 2025.
He continued, “We can rely upon two strong driver line-ups with a very good mix of experience and speed, and the new livery is very inspiring and an extra source of motivation.
“We’re all racing enthusiasts here, and we know the FIA World Endurance Championship is living a golden era – that’s why Peugeot is involved. It’s highly competitive, and we are just as highly determined to make this project a success.”
Driver line-ups combine experience and speed as Peugeot aims for success in 2026 WEC
Peugeot will field two 9X8 Hypercars in 2026, each with a carefully selected driver roster blending experience with rising talent. The #93 car will be piloted by Paul di Resta, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Hypercar newcomer Nick Cassidy. Meanwhile, the #94 entry will feature Loïc Duval and Malthe Jakobsen alongside French prospect Théo Pourchaire, who impressed during his debut by briefly leading in Bahrain last year.
The line-ups are intended to maximise the performance potential of the cars, allowing Peugeot to challenge for podiums and victories across the full WEC calendar, from Imola onwards.
Peugeot’s 2026 campaign kicks off with the 6 Hours of Imola, with round to follow in, Spa‑Francorchamps, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Interlagos, Circuit of the Americas, Fuji, Bahrain, and if possible, Qatar. The refreshed livery, coupled with experienced driver pairings, demonstrates Peugeot’s commitment to translating previous season progress into race-winning results.
With a century of Le Mans history behind them, Peugeot now hopes that its 2026 Hypercar campaign will combine cutting-edge technology, inspired driver line-ups, and a bold new visual identity to finally secure victory in the FIA WEC.
