Stardate 2022

How Peugeot Sport is approaching its LMH programme

- STEWART MITCHELL

Following the ACO and IMSA firming up much of the regulations for the newly introduced LMDh class, along with Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) at Le Mans 2020, Peugeot Sport and its technical partner, Total, confirmed that it will be entering the LMH class in 2022, a year earlier than expected. The decision to enter the LMH category was dictated primarily by the aerodynamic freedom allowed in this class, at least when compared with LMDh regulations.

‘With LMDh based on current LMP2 architecture, this makes it impossible to incorporate the aesthetic detail of the Peugeot Sport brand,’ comments Peugeot brand CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato. ‘After launching the various phases of studies for general [LMH] structure, aerodynamic concept and the choice of engine architecture, comes the final decision of the electrical framework, and then that of the conception of the hybrid traction chain. All of the Peugeot Sport technical departments are involved in these development phases.’

Provided a specific overall aerodynamic efficiency is not exceeded, teams developing cars for the LMH category have a good deal of freedom in the 5m long and 2m wide vehicle.

Technical director at Peugeot Sport, Olivier Jansonnie, continues: ‘To date, we have confirmed part of the aerodynamic concept, the engine framework and have chosen the functionality of the hybrid system and its fundamental design. We still have several steps left before we make our debut in endurance in 2022 – in studies, the production of prototypes and, finally, affirmation on the bench and the track.