The Lion of Le Mans

The new Peugeot 9X8 hypercar is set to make endurance-racing history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

- By Duncan Quinn

Automotive multinational Stellantis is about to take the world by storm, with a new Peugeot 9X8 Le Mans-bound hypercar that looks like it punched through the metaverse from a warped Marvel comic into the real world. It is bonkers in almost every way: the mind-meld of Darth Vader and Baron Harkonnen's fantasy car collection, complete with fins, claws and Kryptonite detailing-to keep it visible from full tilt to brutal braking as it makes the Mulsanne turn at Le Mans. The only thing it seems to be lacking is a rear wing.

Batman is surely jealous, and every kid from here to Timbuktu wants a poster of this car on their wall whether it wins or not, together with a skin for their Gran Turismo 7 ride. Needless to say, we can't wait to see what the drivers outfits look like, and if they come with cloaking devices. We're expecting them to be slicker than Sting in his FeydRautha S&M get-up from David Lynch's rendition of Dune.

Ex-Formula One drivers Paul Di Resta and Kevin Magnussen, and 2013 Le Mans winner Loic Duval, were the very first to drive the car and give their feedback. But sooner or later we will all get to experience the full package as Peugeot Sport yet again makes the pilgrimage to win on the holy ground of motor racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours. For they are re-entering the fray in the new Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) class of the World Endurance Championship in 2022.