Peugeot is one of the biggest names in sports car racing, the French brand having claimed overall victory at the storied 24 Hours of Le Mans on two separate occasions. In 2022, the marque decided to make a return to top-flight sports car racing to claim its third success with its 9×8 prototype.
The car has changed significantly since it first made its debut mid-way through the 2022 World Endurance Championship season, with the latest 2024 version being the main topic of this piece. The car is one of the main protagonists in Le Mans Ultimate, and this guide will run you through the ins and outs of this unusual machine.
The Peugeot Is Yet To Find Its Rhythm At The Track
The 9×8 2024 made its debut at the 2024 Six Hours of Imola, the vehicle being a wild departure from the initial 9×8. The first version didn’t feature a rear wing due to developing the bulk of its downforce through the floor, though the difficulty developing it and finding mechanical grip meant Peugeot needed a rethink.
Now sporting a rear wing and a vastly different suspension and core foundation, the 9×8 2024 was meant to propel Peugeot to the front of the WEC grid. The car currently has only competed in the WEC, and has not yet sampled any IMSA competition due to Peugeot not being active in the US.
Success has proven hard to come by, though, as the halfway-house technical make-up of the 9×8 has yet to bear fruit. Peugeot has struggled to find a good balance between slow and high-speed bends, with the vehicle still struggling to generate mechanical grip and, therefore, traction under acceleration. Its best result so far came in Bahrain at the end of 2024, thanks to an inspired tire strategy.
- The Peugeot 9×8 2024 suits less experienced drivers well, thanks to its understeery balance, but if you want to visualise its characteristics for yourself, take a look at this lap of the car being piloted around the Bahrain International Circuit.
Car Specifications & Key Features
Having been built predominantly to compete in the WEC, Peugeot elected to design the 9×8 2024 to LMH regulations like its forerunner. This meant that it gets a bespoke chassis and suspension setup, as well as 200 kWh hybrid power unit, unlike LMDh cars that use a spec LMP2 chassis and 50 kWh Bosch hybrid unit.
Unlike the LMDh vehicles, which have the hybrid motor mounted to the rear axle, LMH cars have the unit mounted to the front axle. This means that past the 9×8 2024’s deployment speed of 190 km/h, it powers the front wheels to make it all-wheel-drive.
The 9×8 2024 continues to use the same twin-turbocharged 2.6-litre V6 engine that was utilised in the first evolution of the 9×8, which can produce up to 670 hp depending on the Balance of Performance measures attributed to the vehicle. Like its top-class competition, the 9×8 leaves braking down to the driver due to a lack of ABS, though traction control is present to help keep the wheels under control on throttle.
- Unlike its 2023 predecessor, the 9×8 2024 comes with both an adjustable front splitter and rear wing, while its all-important flat floor and rear diffuser help to produce the downforce needed to create grip in high-speed corners
- The 9×8 2024 is modelled very closely to real life in LMU, the car featuring all the styling and mechanical changes applied to the real car. It drives differently from its predecessor, as a result, mainly due to the addition of a rear wing and less reliance on underbody downforce
- Always bear in mind you’ll need to keep the 9×8 2024’s battery level between 0% and 100% at all times, as when fully depleted the motor won’t assist the engine to help save fuel, and when fully charged the motor won’t recover any braking energy and assist with getting the car slowed down, meaning braking power will be reduced
- Make sure to keep the energy regeneration setting at its highest value to maximise braking efficiency, and play around with the motor increment to make sure the battery level remains at a suitable level
To best learn how to take care of these settings while attacking your course of choice, check out Coach Dave Academy’s guide on how to make the most of the hybrid system in LMU.
Handling & Performance on Track
When jumping behind the wheel of the 9×8 2024, you’ll find that it provides a different balance to those of its LMH rivals like the Toyota GR010 and Ferrari 499P. While the Toyota is very neutral and the Ferrari has a looser rear end, the 9×8 2024 tends to understeer. This is the case in both slow and high-speed corners, meaning you’ll need to make sure you have the nose settled before getting back on power.
Unless you go ultra-low on the traction control, the 9×8 2024 also has plenty of rear grip, making it difficult to kick the rear end around on throttle. As a result, jumping on the power before the car is turned will cause the car to understeer, forcing you to come off the throttle and lose corner exit speed and momentum. This can cause a significant loss of lap time when overdriving, though the car is at least very stable when you work out how to limit the understeer.
- The 9×8 2024’s front-limited balance means it can be easy to lose time when pushing too hard into corners
- The Peugeot is very stable under braking, with very little in the way of locking, even when attacking the brakes hard
- The twin-turbo V6 engine is smooth and provides decent traction, making it a straightforward car to drive in all aspects of the corner
- The 9×8 2024 has excellent top-end speed due to its sleek body and BOP, making it one of the fastest prototypes in LMU
Best Tracks for the Peugeot 9×8 2024 in Le Mans Ultimate
The 9×8 doesn’t tend to excel in many areas when it comes to cornering, but its consistent and safe nature means it provides a serviceable platform in most bends. Its excellent top-end pace makes it a great choice for tracks like Le Mans and Monza, though it’s also handy for attacking and defending at other venues.
It’s also good in the wet thanks to its understeer-geared balance, making it a good option at all venues in these conditions. Its effectiveness is enhanced above 190 km/h when the front wheels kick in to help the rears, especially when compared to the rear-drive only LMDh machines.
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How It Compares to Other Cars in the Class
The 9×8 2024 can be decently competitive at most tracks in LMU, though it tends to only be a proper front-runner at tracks that allow it to really stretch its legs in a straight line. That said, it’s a consistent and safe balance that makes it good over longer stints, as it’ll be easier to look after the tires and not make mistakes. Cars like the GR010, 499P, and Cadillac V-Series.R provide more agility in the bends, though they can be trickier to extract the most from.
- The 9×8 2024 is more docile than most of its rivals, though its tendency to understeer can cause loss of laptime unless controlled
- Strong top end and safe balance make it excellent at high-speed tracks like Le Mans and Monza, though understeer makes venues with quick changes of direction more of a challenge
Final Verdict: Is the Peugeot 9×8 2024 the Right Choice for You?
While more experienced hypercar drivers may find the 9×8 2024’s inherent understeer frustrating to deal with, pilots with fewer miles under their belt in the class will find this balance more palatable to help get used to the faster vehicles, especially if stepping from GT3 machinery.
| Pros | Cons |
| Docile balance makes it approachable for less experienced racers | Understeer tendency makes it easy to bleed time when overdriving, tougher to carry speed in quick changes of direction |
| Very effective top speed | Front-limited balance can make it easier to overwork front tires if not careful and understanding of the correct driving style |
| Strong in the wet due to accessible balance and AWD beyond 190 km/h | |
| Approachable under braking, difficult to lock up |
The safe driving balance will make it easier to find the limits of the car without suffering major losses of control, as well as building consistency in terms of looking after the tires during longer stints. Aggressive drivers will tend to struggle with this, though, as attacking corner entries and exits will further induce understeer and cause loss of laptime.
- Aggressive Drivers: 6/10
- Endurance Racers: 8/10
- Casual Sim Racers: 9/10
If you feel your racecraft needs a bit of tuning up, take advantage of Coach Dave Academy’s guide to making sure you move forward in every race you contest.
Wrapping Up
The unusual styling and design approach of the 9×8 2024 makes the Peugeot a bit of a fan favourite, even if it struggles to compete up front in reality. It may not have the agility to suit more experienced drivers looking to carry maximum corner speed, but newer drivers will relish its approachable and stable balance. At tracks like Le Mans, though, be prepared for it to present itself as a bit of a menace.
Coach Dave Academy Delta’s telemetry tool, which can be used to smooth out any driving errors when pushing the 9×8 2024, is available when you need it, as the new AI driving tips feature.
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