Peugeot Expresses Dissatisfaction with FIA WEC’s Balance of Performance
Peugeot’s motorsport boss, Jean-Marc Finot, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of the FIA WEC, stating that the team feels unfairly treated in the series. Speaking to Autosport at Spa, Finot emphasized that despite spending a year improving the 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar, the team has not seen the desired results on the track.
The new version of the 9X8 made its debut at Imola in April but struggled to impress, and received no performance break ahead of the Spa 6 Hours.
Instead, the car was handed a 4kg weight increase and a 2kW (2.5bhp) power decrease, in line with the Balance of Performance (BoP) realignment for the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. This move was part of a broader BoP adjustment that affected all Hypercar class cars, except the Ferrari 499P LMH, which received a 12kg increase in minimum weight and a power reduction of 4kW (5bhp).
Finot’s comments have sparked a response from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, co-organizer of the WEC with the FIA. Club president Pierre Fillon reiterated that the BoP process is designed to slow down overperforming cars quickly, while taking a more gradual approach to assist underperforming cars, in order to prevent sandbagging.
Despite the best of the two 9X8s finishing in 10th place at Spa, Peugeot Sport technical director Olivier Jansonnie described the performance as disappointing. He acknowledged that the car struggled, but was quick in certain sectors, which replicate sections of the Le Mans circuit. Jansonnie expressed hope that the team can show better pace at the upcoming Le Mans 24 Hours, citing the differences in track layout.
Finot refused to make any predictions for Le Mans, instead hinting that there would be changes for the event without directly referencing the BoP. Last year’s 9X8 performance at Le Mans was one of its best, with the #93 entry leading the race on four occasions.
The revised 9X8 has undergone significant changes, including the adoption of narrower front tires and wider rear tires, similar to the rest of the Hypercar field. This has led to a rearward shift in weight distribution, prompting an overhaul of the aerodynamic concept and the addition of a conventional rear wing.
As the WEC 2024 season progresses, Peugeot’s plight highlights the complexities of the BoP system and the challenges teams face in achieving a competitive edge. With the wec calendar 2023 already underway, the next round at Le Mans promises to be a crucial test for the 9X8 and its rivals in the Hypercar class. Will Peugeot be able to turn its fortunes around and secure a strong result at the iconic endurance race? Only time will tell.
Published: May 2023, Autosport
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