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Theo Pourchaire Steps Up to Replace Stoffel Vandoorne in Peugeot WEC Hypercar
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Highlights
- Stoffel Vandoorne exits Peugeot WEC team after Fuji round 2025
- Theo Pourchaire replaces Vandoorne for Bahrain 8 Hours November 8
- Pourchaire promoted after strong ELMS season and rapid adaptation
- Vandoorne expected to join WEC newcomer Genesis in 2026
- Peugeot may also lose drivers Jakobsen and Jensen by year-end
- Nick Cassidy confirmed for Peugeot Hypercar roster in 2026
Stoffel Vandoorne will leave Peugeot’s WEC squad after the Fuji round in September, with Theo Pourchaire taking his seat for the Bahrain 8 Hours on November 8.
Peugeot confirms his contract concludes at Fuji, framing the switch as part of forward planning for its Hypercar roster.
Peugeot confirms Vandoorne’s exit after Fuji as it reshapes its Hypercar roster for 2026.
Pourchaire, the 2023 Formula 2 champion, has served as Peugeot’s test and development driver this season and impressed in ELMS with Algarve Pro’s Oreca-Gibson LMP2.
#94 Peugeot will pair Pourchaire with Loic Duval and Malthe Jakobsen in Bahrain, providing a full-race evaluation in traffic-heavy, low-grip night conditions.
Nick Cassidy is already signed for 2026 but does not race this season, underscoring Peugeot’s staged refresh rather than wholesale change.
Vandoorne joined as a test driver in 2023 and stepped into the race lineup last season. He declines an extension and is expected to join Genesis for 2026.
Pourchaire, the 2023 F2 champion, debuts for Peugeot at the Bahrain 8 Hours on November 8.
Genesis has confirmed Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani. Team principal Cyril Abiteboul recently said the roster is “80% complete” during the Austin WEC round.
Peugeot technical director Olivier Jansonnie praised Vandoorne’s professionalism and experience, and described Pourchaire’s promotion as a logical step based on pace, adaptability, and simulator correlation.
Further churn is possible. Contracts for Jakobsen and Mikkel Jensen expire this year, with both linked to McLaren’s 2027 Hypercar program run by United Autosports.
Cyril Abiteboul says Genesis’s 2026 driver lineup is “80% complete.”
The Bahrain outing tests Pourchaire’s tyre and fuel management, traffic discipline, and stint consistency. A clean, error-free run would strengthen his 2026 candidacy.
Peugeot balances continuity through Duval and incoming Cassidy with development mileage for Pourchaire. The timing reflects an emphasis on 2026 competitiveness over short-term stability.
Visual Summary
➡️
Stoffel Vandoorne
Leaves Peugeot
after Fuji (Sept)
Theo Pourchaire
➡️
➡️
Debuts at Bahrain
8H (Nov 8)
🐁
Peugeot
Next:
Genesis 2026
2023 F2 Champ
ELMS standout 🎯
Peugeot swaps experience for new blood in 2025: Vandoorne out, Pourchaire in!
(A new era starts at Bahrain—future-focused, hungry for results.)
Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.
