Guenther joins Vandoorne in 9X8 test run
Formula E racers Stoffel Vandoorne and Maximilian Guenther will drive the Peugeot 9X8 at the World Endurance Championship ‘rookie’ test this Sunday in Bahrain. The duo are coming in to sample the Le Mans Hypercar from the French manufacturer’s sister brands, DS and Maserati, for which they will race in the coming FE season.
The significance of their appearances with Peugeot at the test on the day after the 2022 WEC finale remains unclear for the moment. Peugeot Sport boss Jean-marc Finot has stated that the marque will go into next season with a squad of seven drivers, as it was in 2022 prior to Kevin Magnussen’s late defection to Formula 1 with Haas. James Rossiter, Peugeot’s official reserve who stood in for the Dane on the 9X8’s first two race appearances at Monza and Fuji, has become team principal of the Maserati MSG Racing team and will be replaced in that role.
Reigning FE world champion Vandoorne, who has switched from Mercedes to DS Penske in FE, has raced both LMP1 and P2 machinery in the WEC for SMP Racing and Jota. Guenther (above), who was confirmed by Maserati along with Edoardo Mortara last week, will be making his prototype debut.
Peugeot will also try out two-time
World Touring Car Cup title winner Yann Ehrlacher and 19-year-old Dane Malthe Jakobsen, who won the LMP3 title in the European Le Mans Series this year.
Other names confirmed for the test include Nelson Piquet Jr, who will drive an LMP2 ORECA for United Autosports. The Brazilian, who has raced predominantly in his homeland since leaving the Jaguar FE squad in 2019, has already been announced for an ELMS campaign with the team in 2023.
Formula 3 race winner Juan Manuel Correa will take part in the test in Prema’s ORECA after being brought into its ELMS line-up for the final two races.