Nico Müller will race again for Peugeot at the WEC finale in Bahrain – The team hopes to achieve a good end to the season at the 8-hour race in the desert
Nico Müller returns to the racing cockpit for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) finale in Bahrain: the Swiss driver, who had to sit out the WEC round in Fuji due to an injury to his left collarbone and was represented by Stoffel Vandoorne, will again share the 94 Peugeot 9X8 with Gustavo Menezes and Loic Duval.
Details about his injury remain unknown, however doctors issued a go-ahead for the start. “I’m really looking forward to being back behind the wheel of the 9X8, working with the whole team again and giving our best in this last race of the season,” said a delighted Müller, who made his Peugeot debut a year ago in Bahrain.
Back then, the former Audi factory driver stepped in as a replacement for James Rossiter, who ended his racing career. “I’m going to Bahrain with good memories of my first official event with Peugeot last year,” said Müller. “We can build on that experience. So I’m just going to go out there, give it my all and hopefully take something positive from it. “
Müller: “Not an easy season for us “
“Of course it wasn’t an easy season for us, but we showed some potential, some highlights here and there, and I hope the last race of the season can be one as well,” enthused the Swiss. “I hope we will finish the season with a good result and I am confident we can do a good job.”
Vandoorne, who took over from Müller at Fuji, will not be back in the Peugeot until the rookie test, where he will turn the wheel alongside Malthe Jakobsen and Mikkel Jensen. The Belgian, however, will be promoted to regular driver next year, following in the footsteps of Menezes, who will leave the team at the end of the season.
Peugeot is confident of finishing the 2023 WEC season with a good result. “The Bahrain track is known for being very hard on the brakes and tires, especially in terms of degradation at high track temperatures,” knows Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot Sport Technical Director.
Peugeot hopes for “good result “
“Thanks to last year’s race and the rookie test, we already have some experience and valuable data that could be very useful for tire management,” explains Jansonnie. “This will be one of the challenges during the 8-hour race, which will lead to different strategies for the teams, as we know the tire distribution is a bit better than in a 6-hour race.”
“The circuit is also very interesting, with technical sections and quiet sequences,” knows the Peugeot Sport Technical Director. “An 8-hour race, with more difficulties in terms of endurance and tire management, will be very important for us and our drivers.”
“The goal for the final race is to keep both cars at a reliability level that will allow them to race consistently, and to stay close to the front to be able to take advantage of the race opportunities that can lead to a good result. “
