Stoffel Vandoorne (Peugeot): “We can be quite satisfied”

With the two Peugeot 9X8s present in Hyperpole, the Belgian did not shy away from his pleasure, even if he would have liked to qualify a little higher on the grid.

Published on 01/03/2024 à 17:13

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Stoffel Vandoorne (Peugeot): “We can be quite satisfied”

Peugeot has placed its two 9X8s in the Hyperpole at Losail. / © DPPI

Peugeot will he regret abandoning his radical 9X8 concept without a rear wing? After a year and a half of sluggish performance, the 9X8s show a completely different face in the Losail desert, scene of the last outing of the 9X8 in its original configuration before its replacement by a version 2.0 at Imola next month (April 21) .

After convincing free practice, the two French LMHs reached Hyperpole, the 10 fastest in the peloton of 19 Hypercars.

Jean-Eric Vergne qualified in 6th place aboard the No. 93, while Stoffel Vandoorne had to settle for 10th fastest time, respectively 0 and 720 behind the poleman.

« I think we can be quite satisfied because this year it's a little more complicated with 19 cars on the track., Vandoorne told us after the qualifying session.

We were quite optimistic about our chances of going to Hyperpole after the prologue and the tests. That's the first good thing.

As for the Hyperpole itself, it was a little more complicated on the hard tires. We didn't really focus on that for the qualifiers. Unfortunately, it's only a 10th place for us but a 6th for JEV (Vergne. Editor’s note).

Last year we were also P8, P9, P10, but there were only 9, 10 cars. This shows that we have progressed and that we are in the match here. Although there is still a lot of work to do. Tomorrow (Sunday March 2), we are aiming for a clean race and that we will have the pace to progress in the hierarchy. »

So, what is there to regret about the upcoming retirement of the 9X8 1.0?

« In motorsport you can never stop, answers Vandoorne, started full time this season replacing Gustavo Menezes. If we don't do anything, we won't move forward either.

It's always good news to bring a new car for the long term. If we are a little more in the match here, it is also thanks to the circuit

There isn't too much acceleration at low speed and the track isn't super bumpy. This helps us a little bit with the car platform. »

The Balance of Performance, generally favorable to Peugeot this weekend, is undoubtedly no stranger to the good performances of the 9X8s under the spotlights at Losail.

The 1812 km of Qatar will begin on Sunday March 2 at 11:00 a.m. Doha time (09:00 a.m. in France).