Stoffel Vandoorne – Credit: Stellantis Communications
Stoffel Vandoorne has been confirmed as a Peugeot Sport Hypercar driver for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship after he made his race debut at the 6 Hours of Fuji earlier this month.
The Belgian held the role of reserve driver at Peugeot Sport for the 2023 WEC season, making his race debut at the 6 Hours of Fuji after Nico Mueller could not take part due to injury.
Vandoorne joined the #94 Peugeot 9X8 crew with teammates Loic Duval and Gustavo Menezes, the latter of whom will depart the team at the end of this season.
Vandoorne said: “I’m really happy to join the team as official driver for the 2024 season.
“I have always appreciated the FIA WEC and am familiar with it as I raced in 2019 and 2021.
“My goal was clearly to come back to this championship and even more now with the Hypercar class, with so many manufacturers.
“Having the opportunity to fight for the victory and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is fantastic and I think it’s a dream for a lot of drivers.
“I’m really glad to be part of this team and excited to start with Peugeot.”
Jean-Marc Finot, Senior Vice President of Stellantis Motorsport, added: “We are proud to name Stoffel Vandoorne as Team Peugeot TotalEnergies official driver.
“As he showed in Fuji, his team spirit, his performance, and his consistency are in line with the ones of his teammates.
“Of course, we already know Stoffel very well, as driver for DS Penske in Formula E; he is part of the Stellantis Motorport drivers’ family.
“His ability to adapt and to be get into rhythm right away shows that both series are complementary, the FIA WEC and FIA Formula E and the advantage of having drivers that participate in both championships.”
Vandoorne raced the Peugeot 9X8 at this year’s Six Hours of Fuji – XPB Images
He first drove in the WEC in two races within the 2018-19 Super-Season, in SMP Racing’s LMP1 efforts at the 2019 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 31-year-old returned to the series in 2021 with JOTA Sport, becoming a runner-up in the LMP2 Championship standings.
Last year at the Bahrain Rookie Test, he was set to drive the 9X8 before he suffered appendicitis, preventing him from doing so.
Since then, he has conducted a mixture of track tests and simulator sessions with Peugeot Sport and its technical staff.
In the 6 Hours of Fuji, he claimed seventh place in the #94 entry as the team were not able to follow up their maiden WEC podium at Monza.
He will make his WEC return next year at the opening round in Qatar on 2 March 2024, followed by seven further races including Le Mans.
Keyword: Vandoorne confirmed as Peugeot driver for 2024 WEC campaign