Stoffel Vandoorne will leave Peugeot TotalEnergies following this weekend’s 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 6 Hours of Fuji, bringing his latest stint with the French manufacturer to an early conclusion.
Peugeot confirmed Vandoorne’s departure in a brief communication on Saturday, with the Belgian set to vacate his place aboard the #93 Peugeot 9X8 following the Japanese round. He will consequently miss the final two races of the 2026 WEC season at Barcelona and Monza.
The manufacturer has yet to announce Vandoorne’s replacement for those events, although reserve driver Alex Quinn could step into the #93 for what would become his Hypercar race debut. The change comes as Peugeot continues reshaping its driver line-up ahead of the 2027 season.
Vandoorne to leave Peugeot after Fuji
Vandoorne will make his final Peugeot appearance at Fuji after returning to the manufacturer’s WEC programme for the 2026 campaign. His departure means the 6 Hours of Fuji will bring his second stint with the French marque to an end before the championship reaches its final two rounds.
Peugeot has not yet announced who will take Vandoorne’s place alongside his #93 team-mates for Barcelona and Monza. However, Quinn appears well positioned to receive the opportunity after continuing his work with the manufacturer as its reserve driver.
The Brit recently participated in Peugeot’s endurance test at Portimão alongside several drivers involved in the manufacturer’s preparations for 2027. Quinn has yet to make his Hypercar race debut, meaning a promotion for Barcelona would provide his first competitive opportunity aboard the 9X8.
Peugeot’s decision also comes during a period of significant change within its driver programme. The manufacturer has already started confirming elements of its future line-up as it prepares for another WEC campaign in 2027.
Formula E return awaits Vandoorne
Vandoorne’s Peugeot departure comes ahead of his return to full-time ABB FIA Formula E World Championship competition with Jaguar TCS Racing for the 2026/27 season.
The Belgian previously combined his endurance racing commitments with Formula E before moving away from a full-time seat in the all-electric championship. His Jaguar move will now return Formula E to the centre of his racing programme.
Vandoorne will replace Mitch Evans at Jaguar, bringing extensive Formula E experience to the British manufacturer. He remains one of the championship’s former title winners after claiming the 2021/22 Drivers’ Championship with Mercedes-EQ.
His move also places him at the centre of a wider reshuffle involving several drivers connected to Peugeot’s current WEC programme.
Peugeot continues reshaping 2027 line-up
Vandoorne is expected to become one of several drivers from Peugeot’s current programme who will not remain with the manufacturer next season.
Malthe Jakobsen is set to depart for McLaren as the British manufacturer prepares for its Hypercar programme, while Théo Pourchaire will step away from Peugeot to concentrate on his Formula E commitments with sister Stellantis brand Opel.
Pourchaire will share Opel’s Formula E garage with Evans, whose Jaguar seat Vandoorne will occupy. The changes consequently link several movements across both the WEC and Formula E as manufacturers establish their programmes for the coming seasons.
Peugeot has already confirmed one significant addition to its future WEC line-up. Robert Shwartzman will join the manufacturer for 2027 after participating in its recent testing programme, adding another experienced prototype driver as Peugeot restructures its Hypercar operation.
Quinn also took part in the Portimão endurance test and is expected to feature in Peugeot’s longer-term plans. A race opportunity during the closing stages of 2026 would therefore allow the manufacturer to evaluate him in competitive conditions before finalising its next full-season line-up.
Quinn in line for potential Hypercar debut
Should Peugeot promote Quinn for Barcelona, the British driver would make his first WEC Hypercar race start after building experience with the 9X8 through his reserve role and testing programme.
The opportunity would also allow Peugeot to begin its transition towards 2027 before the current season concludes. With Vandoorne departing after Fuji and other changes expected during the winter, the final two rounds could provide valuable preparation for a significantly revised driver roster.
Peugeot has yet to formally confirm that Quinn will receive the seat, however, leaving the identity of Vandoorne’s replacement officially open. The manufacturer could therefore choose a different solution for Barcelona and Monza as it balances its immediate championship commitments with preparations for next season.
Whoever receives the opportunity will join a Peugeot programme that has continued to search for greater consistency with the 9X8 during the 2026 campaign. The French marque entered the 6 Hours of Fuji weekend looking to build on its recent progress as the championship moves towards its final stages.
Second Fuji farewell for Vandoorne
Vandoorne’s departure carries an unusual similarity to the conclusion of his previous Peugeot stint. The Belgian also appeared to bid farewell to the manufacturer following the 2025 6 Hours of Fuji amid expectations that he would move elsewhere for the following season.
At the time, Vandoorne had been strongly linked with a move to Genesis Magma Racing as the Korean manufacturer prepared to enter the WEC Hypercar category. However, those discussions did not ultimately produce an agreement, opening the door for Vandoorne to return to Peugeot for 2026.
His recall extended his relationship with the French manufacturer for another season, but Fuji will once again mark the conclusion of his time aboard the 9X8.
Unlike his previous departure, Vandoorne already has another full-time programme confirmed. His switch to Jaguar will return him to Formula E as Peugeot turns towards a new generation of drivers for its continuing Hypercar campaign.
Fuji becomes Vandoorne’s final Peugeot start
Vandoorne therefore enters the 6 Hours of Fuji knowing it will mark his final race with Peugeot TotalEnergies. The Belgian will complete the Japanese event before leaving the #93 line-up ahead of Barcelona and Monza.
Attention will now turn towards Peugeot’s choice of replacement. Quinn’s reserve role, recent Portimão running and expected place within the manufacturer’s future plans make him a potential candidate, but Peugeot has not formally confirmed who will take over the vacant seat.
The change also represents another piece of Peugeot’s developing 2027 driver picture. With Shwartzman already confirmed as an incoming driver and further departures expected, the French manufacturer looks set to field a substantially different line-up next season.
Before that transition begins, Vandoorne has one final opportunity to deliver a result aboard the 9X8 at Fuji.
