The Peugeot 9X8 will not compete as a Dodge in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, confirms Jean-Marc Finot – Why the concept doesn’t fit
The idea already existed in 2021, when the American magazine Racer reported that a start of the Peugeot 9X8 with the Dodge label in the IMSA SportsCar Championship was being considered. But nothing came of it.
The answer was clear. “I don’t think IMSA is suitable for a brand like Dodge,” said the Frenchman. “Dodge produces muscle cars that are more suited to GT cars. The visibility for Dodge would probably be better in NASCAR.”
Dodge was involved in NASCAR’s top division from 2001 to 2012 and has a flagship in the Challenger SRT Hellcat, which is not currently active in international motorsport.
The giant corporation, which comprises 14 brands, is also not currently represented in GT3 racing, but would have to set up a customer sports department for this. The former Fiat-Chrysler Group was last involved in the American Le Mans Series and IMSA with the SRT Viper in 2013 and 2014; the last start to date dates back to the GTD victory at the Petit Le Mans in 2016 by Riley Motorsports with a Viper GT3 model.
“You could think about the Maserati brand, but we are already involved in Formula E with this brand,” Finot waves it off. In addition, DS Automobiles is also represented in Formula E with Jay Penske’s team, but this is not an obstacle given the Group’s electrification strategy.
So the topic of IMSA is out of the question for Stellantis for the time being: “We have a car, but we don’t see any need to compete in IMSA. First and foremost, we have to take care of the performance of the Peugeot WEC team.”
The Peugeot 9X8 made its debut in a new evolutionary stage at the 6-hour race in Imola, but so far has not achieved more than two seventh places. The new vehicle is clearly different from its predecessor, but at the same time the classification was rather conservative in the first races.
The Peugeot 9X8 will compete in the 6-hour race in Austin at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on September 1, where it will present itself to the American public.
