Peugeot’s endurance racing team earned a hard-fought fourth place at the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Fuji, marking the best result of their campaign so far. Mikkel Jensen, part of the #93 Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar crew, celebrated the result, which saw them finish just 3.25 seconds behind the third-placed #36 Alpine A424.
Both Peugeots, the #93 and #94, made significant gains during the race, each climbing 10 positions higher than their starting places. Jean-Eric Vergne, who kicked off the race in the #93 car from 14th on the grid, handed over to teammates Nico Muller and Mikkel Jensen, who brought the car home after a challenging final stint.
Jensen reflected on the intense closing stages: “It was a big fight on track, and I was pushing hard to stay on the lead lap. I had no idea what my position was. I overtook the (#35) Alpine, my tyres were shot, but I kept going at the same pace. I’m super happy with this 4th place, it’s a great result for Team Peugeot TotalEnergies.”
The team’s success at Fuji came despite qualifying struggles and the car not showcasing the strongest pace throughout the race. Safety cars and full-course yellows kept the Peugeots within striking distance of crucial points. Jensen and his co-drivers capitalized on these opportunities to secure the top-four finish.
Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport, praised the team’s strategic approach to tyre management. “We knew it would come down to the end of the race. We had saved new tyres for the final stint, and it worked. It was a race full of twists, with many collisions, full-course yellows, and safety cars. We are happy with what we accomplished, even though we still lack a bit of pace.”
Despite not having the most competitive car on the grid, Peugeot maximized their strategy to stay in contention. Jansonnie added, “Maybe we didn’t have the most competitive car, but we made the most of it with our strategy. Some of our drivers had tough stints, having to push the tyres to their limits, but they delivered a great team result that I’m very proud of, at every level of the team.”
Peugeot’s team feels this result is a reward for their persistence after a challenging run since Austin, showcasing the dedication of the entire squad as they gear up for the remainder of the season.
