Peugeot teases new Le Mans hypercar challenger

Heading an announcement about working with crack LMP1 squad Rebellion, was this image, perhaps teasing how the French firm’s challenger could look when it arrives on the scene in 2022.

The new ‘hypercar’ rules allow both road-based and prototype-based chassis to compete on a level playing field. Aston Martin have already announced they will be joining the series with a version of their V12-engined Valkyrie from next year, and they will be joined by current LMP stalwarts Toyota, who will introduce a new prototype for the 2020-2021 season.

Also due to be on the grid are Glickenhaus, with their already teased SCG007 racer, and long-time WEC competitor ByKolles, who have yet to announce details of their car.

Rumours of Rebellion, who have finished as top privateer multiple times in the LMP-Hybrid era, and won their first LMP1 race at Shanghai last month, entering the new hypercar class had been swirling for some time, and the confirmation that they will work with Peugeot on their new challenger puts some more meat on the bones of Peugeot’s entry. Although it has yet to be confirmed if they will run as a single team, or if a potential customer Rebellion entry could be on the cards.

The image revealed with the news shows a prototype-style car with design cues from Peugeot’s road car, and some striking resemblance to the stillborn Peugeot 905 Evo 2 ‘Supercopter’. The planned successor to the wildly successful Peugeot 905 that was killed by the end of Group C.

Peugeot have already confirmed that they will enter with a prototype rather than a road-based car, which will feature a hybrid system. That puts them on a similar course to Toyota, although Aston Martin will enter without a hybrid system. The ACO, which runs the WEC, has promised that hybrid and non-hybrids will be balanced to ensure proper competition.

Speaking of the tie-up Jean-Mac Finot said: “The programme will kick off in 2022 and we are extremely happy to be teaming up with one of endurance racing’s big names. REBELLION Racing’s experience of the FIA WEC will be a big asset as we put together the strongest possible team for our programme, and this was corroborated by the team’s recent victory in Shanghai. The roles will be divided as a function of our respective competencies and all of us will be based at Versailles-Satory.”

Shanghai image courtesy of Motorsport Images.