Peugeot Sport revealed the brand-new 9X8 for the upcoming 2024 World Endurance Championship in an exciting announcement yesterday. The highly anticipated addition to the car is the long-discussed rear wing, which was unveiled to the public for the first time.
Initially, the original 9X8 model did not feature a rear wing. Peugeot had discovered that they could meet the downforce and drag requirements set by the WEC’s Hypercar regulations without the need for a wing. However, during the development phase of the car, the regulations were updated to allow for 29-inch front and 34-inch rear tyres instead of the previous 31-inch size. Unfortunately, Peugeot had already progressed too far in the development process to make the necessary changes.
Consequently, Peugeot faced challenges with the original version of the car, particularly regarding rear traction due to the narrower rear tyres. In order to align with the other teams and manufacturers such as Toyota, Ferrari, and Porsche, who were utilizing the 29/34-inch tyre configuration, Peugeot had to make adjustments to the weight distribution. This adjustment ultimately required the addition of a rear wing to meet the required performance targets.
To gain a more in-depth understanding of these technical developments, watch the video below featuring Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot’s technical director. The redesigned 9X8 will make its highly anticipated debut at the 6 Hours of Imola race next month.