The 22-year-old driver from Grasse, Théo Pourchaire, will make his racing debut with the Peugeot 9X8 during the finale of the 2025 World Endurance Championship. He will then join the team full-time for the 2026 season.
Théo Pourchaire is about to experience a key moment. At 22, he will be placed behind the wheel of the Peugeot 9X8 for the first time in an official competition during the 8 Hours of Bahrain, scheduled for November 8, 2025. This race, the final stage of the WEC season, will serve as a transition before a full-time spot starting in 2026. The young Frenchman will then join the trio of permanent drivers for car no. 94 of Team Peugeot TotalEnergies.
The Azurian replaces Stoffel Vandoorne. The Belgian driver is leaving the team after two seasons and thirteen Hypercar starts. His journey was marked by two Hyperpoles, one of which was achieved at Spa-Francorchamps. Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport, praised “his professionalism and commitment,” thanking the Belgian driver for the “experience shared within the team over these two years.”
This handover marks a strategic choice. Peugeot Sport combines the departure of an experienced driver and the arrival of a young hopeful who has been part of the project for a year.
A step-by-step journey
The official announcement of Théo Pourchaire is part of a progressive trajectory. Formula 2 Champion in 2023, he has since accumulated varied experiences: Super Formula in Japan, IndyCar in the United States, and then reserve driver in Formula 1. This versatility was complemented by a first contact with endurance racing in 2024 during the rookie test in Bahrain. His 17 laps completed in the 9X8 convinced the team to give him a development role in 2025.
Throughout the year, he multiplied sessions on the simulator and private tests, whether in WEC or in Formula E. In parallel, he engaged with the discipline in real conditions with a program in LMP2 with the Algarve Pro Racing team. His results include a pole position at Imola in the European Le Mans Series and an 8th place in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking a remarkable first participation.
For Olivier Jansonnie, this evolution corresponds to a precise work plan: “Théo continues his learning with the 9X8, and this race represents a logical step in his integration into the Hypercar program. He has shown an excellent level of performance, a rapid adaptation to the discipline, and total commitment from the start.”
The statement highlights the technical team’s confidence and the coherence of a strategy of gradual integration.
A more serene future in endurance
The announcement of Théo Pourchaire’s full-time position completes the reorganization of Peugeot’s endurance program. Following the anticipated arrival of Nick Cassidy, the team is strengthening its lineup by betting on young profiles trained in different environments. For Jean-Marc Finot, Vice President of Stellantis Motorsport, this direction corresponds to a guiding principle: “we have always placed great importance on supporting young drivers. Théo perfectly embodies this philosophy, the one of building the future with promising talents trained to our standards.”
For his part, the young driver from Grasse understands the importance of the opportunity presented to him. “I’m super happy. Thank you to Team Peugeot TotalEnergies for trusting me. Racing at the highest level of endurance with a brand like Peugeot is a pride. I’m looking forward to starting in Bahrain alongside Loïc Duval and Malthe Jakobsen, on a circuit that I really love.”
The 2025 season will end with a first appearance in Hypercar for the Maralpin. The Bahrain meeting will have symbolic significance: a French driver at the wheel of a French car, on a track that will serve as a springboard towards full engagement.
With this choice, Peugeot confirms its intention to embark on a long-term project. Théo Pourchaire becomes one of the faces of this ambition.
