Official: Nico Müller new Peugeot driver in WEC

It was in the pipeline in recent days, it is now official: Nico Müller was confirmed this Thursday, September 15 as new driver at Peugeot Sport. The French team was looking for a replacement for Kevin Magnussen for several months, the Dane having left for Formula 1 in Haas. After several months of prospecting, his sights finally fell on the Swiss. The latter was, with René Rast, one of the two drivers announced in Audi's LMDh program, now buried with the arrival of the German manufacturer in Formula 1 planned for 2026. 

Nico Müller on track from Bahrain?

Nico Müller even entered the world championship this season, in the LM P2 category, to prepare for his arrival in the Hypercar category. The Helvetian thus participates in the WEC with the Vector Sport team, alongside Sébastien Bourdais and Ryan Cullen. This Wednesday, Audi confirmed the departure of its driver at the end of the season, opening the door to his departure to another manufacturer engaged in the premier category of 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

“Just like René Rast, Nico Müller was originally intended to become a pilot for our LMDh project, explains Rolf Michl, head of Audi Motorsport. Nico prepared intensively for the prototype races in the LM P2 category (with Vector Sport. Editor’s note). In addition to Formula E, Nico sees his future at Le Mans and in proto. We cannot offer him that at the moment, so it is with heavy hearts that we have decided together to let him go and give him the opportunity to realize his dream. »

“I am very happy to take part in this new adventure and to participate in the program in 2023 Endurance FIA WEC of Team Peugeot TotalEnergies, I am joining a new chapter in the team's history. Joining a manufacturer that has such a history in Endurance and at Le Mans is a great opportunity, especially since with these new regulations and all the competition, we are going to experience a great adventure. For a pilot, it is a dream and an extremely exciting professional challenge. I started following endurance and the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2007, I must say that Peugeot surprised me with its ability to produce cars that were always very efficient. » declares Nico Müller. 

The technical director of Team Peugeot TotalEnergies, Olivier Jansonnie, explains this choice: “ Nico is a talented driver with impressive results in several categories. He raced in the WEC, drove an LM P2 in 2022 and showed the speed and consistency that Team Peugeot TotalEnergies expects from its drivers. He has a good team spirit and is fully committed to winning the 24h of Le Mans and the WEC championship. James Rossiter of course remains our pilot de reserve and our test driver as announced in 2021. With his experience and demonstrated performance, he is an important element in the development of the 9X8, both on the track and in the simulator." 

While James Rossiter competed in the last two rounds of the WEC, at Monza and Fuji, with the Lion brand, the question now is to know who, the British or the Swiss, will sit in the 9X8 n°94 alongside Loïc duval and Gustavo Menezes during the 8 Hours of Bahrain, final round of the 2022 season? If the provisional entry list currently indicates the presence of Rossiter for the event, the situation is not set in stone on Peugeot's side. In its press release, Audi indicates that the final of the DTM October 8 and 9 will be Nico Müller's last appearance with the four-ring brand. One month before the 8 Hours of Bahrain, November 12. The 30-year-old driver could therefore be able to sit in the seat of the Hypercar in Sakhir.

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