Vandoorne to replace Mueller at Peugeot TotalEnergies for Fuji
Stoffel Vandoorne has been confirmed to drive for Peugeot TotalEnergies at next week’s 6 Hours of Fuji, round six of the FIA World Endurance Championship (8-10 September).
Vandoorne, who is the official reserve driver for Peugeot TotalEnergies, will replace Nico Mueller who is unable to race at the Japanese WEC round due to an injury. Belgium's Vandoorne will take to the wheel of the Peugeot 9X8 in the headline Hypercar category alongside Loic Duval and Gustavo Menezes.
Duval – Vandoorne’s teammate for Fuji - knows the circuit better than most with the French driver having lived in Gotemba previously.
“I love Japan, I have been racing there for many years, I lived in Gotemba, next to the track so I feel at home,” confirmed the Frenchman. “The weather is a great challenge in Fuji, I love the track as it gives a lot of opportunities to overtake, the racing is always fun. There are not a lot of corners but those there are vary immensely! slow, high speed, technical... Without forgetting the fans that are, I think, the best in the world, it’s always a pleasure to be able to race for them.”
The driver line-up for PeugeotEnergies’ sister No. 93 car remains unchanged (Paul Di Resta, Jean-Eric Vergne and Mikkel Jensen).
Last year’s WEC 6 Hours of Fuji marked the second ever race for the Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar where the French-based team were able to gather important data which it will use going into this year’s event. The team will also feel extra motivation in Japan as Peugeot TotalEnergies secured its first ever podium at the most recent race in Monza.
WEC 6 Hours of Fuji Race Timetable
Friday 8 September
11h00 – 12h30: FP1
15h30 – 17h00: FP2
Saturday 9 September
10h20 – 11h20: FP3
14h40: Qualifying
Sunday 10 September
11h00: Race start
