Peugeot will mark 100 years of 24 hours racing at this year's Le Mans 24 hours, which takes place on 13 and 14 June.
100 years? How time flies…
It sure does. Le Mans, as an event, was only three years old when Peugeot first competed (and remember this was 13 years after the great French brand had won the third-ever Indianapolis 500…) with a pair of Peugeot 174S cars.
How many times has Peugeot competed since then?
Since 1926, Peugeot has competed at Le Mans 14 times, and has won three of those races - finishing 1st and 3rd in 1992, and then with a historic 1-2-3 in 1993, with the amazing Peugeot 905 race car (still one of the coolest-looking racing cars, with its mighty 3.5-litre V10 engine). Then, in the 2000s, Peugeot returned to Le Mans with the 'stealth bomber' 908 HDI, with its incredible 5.5-litre twin-turbo V12 diesel engine, which finished 1-2 at the 2009 Le Mans.
How is Peugeot marking the occasion?
By racing! Peugeot is back for another crack at Le Mans this year with its stunning-looking 9X8 hybrid-engined prototype, which gets a dramatic red, black, and white colour scheme this year as a nod to Peugeot's GTi heritage. For the 100th anniversary, the race cars will also wear a specially designed 100 Years of Le Mans badge.
Can Peugeot win this year?
It's a long shot, but it's certainly possible. The World Endurance Championship (WEC) is a bit more open in competition terms this year, with Toyota and BMW winning the opening two races, and Peugeot is quick enough to score the pole position at the most recent race, the Spa 6 Hours.
The Peugeot Sport team will have to compete against a very strong Hypercar class field, including Toyota, BMW, Cadillac, Genesis, and, of course, three-time-on-the-trot winner Ferrari. However, Le Mans is a race that rewards speed, tactical nous, and luck in equal measure, so all things are possible.
What else is happening at Le Mans?
As well as the on-track action, Peugeot will be showing off its new all-electric E-208 GTi hot hatch and running a drive-in cinema, where the seats are classic Peugeot models, showing classic car-related films all weekend.
On Saturday, ahead of the race itself, there will also be a grand parade which will bring together 20 Peugeot competition and production vehicles that have marked the brand's history, celebrating the centenary of its first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
When does this all kick off?
First practice and qualifying sessions start on Wednesday, 10 June, and the race itself will be flagged away (by cycling legend Mark Cavendish) at 3pm Irish time on Saturday, 13 June. You can listen to free live commentary on Radio Le Mans, and there's online coverage, for a subscription fee, at the official WEC website.