At the storied Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, anticipation ran high for Peugeot as the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship rolled into the Ardennes. The French marque arrived buoyed by a recent Balance of Performance adjustment, which many believed would finally allow the striking 9X8 Hypercars to realise their potential against the formidable competition of Ferrari, Toyota, and Porsche.
Qualifying offered a tantalising glimpse of what might be possible. The #94 Peugeot, piloted with precision and verve, secured an impressive fourth on the grid, while the sister #93 car lined up seventh. For a team that has, at times, struggled to match the outright pace of its rivals, this was a quietly encouraging result. Hopes were high that Spa, with its fast, flowing bends and capricious weather, might be the stage for Peugeot’s resurgence.
Yet, as so often in endurance racing, the narrative of promise was swiftly overtaken by the realities of a gruelling six-hour contest. The #93 car, though it ran reliably and showed flashes of competitive speed, found itself mired in the midfield, ultimately finishing eleventh in the Hypercar class. Over a minute adrift of the victorious Ferrari, the Peugeot’s race was hampered by a series of strategic miscalculations and ill-timed pit stops that left it unable to capitalise on its qualifying performance.
The fortunes of the #94 car were even more cruelly dashed. After a solid start, its challenge ended abruptly following a collision with the #20 BMW. The resultant suspension damage forced an early retirement after just 99 laps-a bitter blow for the team, especially given the optimism that had characterised the build-up to the race.
For Peugeot, Spa was a sobering reminder of the unforgiving nature of top-level endurance racing. Despite the evident progress in single-lap pace, the team’s operational execution and racecraft fell short of the standards set by their rivals. As the chequered flag fell, there was a palpable sense of frustration in the Peugeot garage: another opportunity had slipped away, and with Le Mans looming, the pressure to deliver a breakthrough result continues to mount.
In the end, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps served as both a testament to Peugeot’s potential and a stark illustration of the challenges that remain.
