Pourchaire to replace Vandoorne in Peugeot WEC Hypercar line-up

Ex-Formula 1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne is leaving Peugeot’s World Endurance Championship squad and will make his exit ahead of the Bahrain 2025 finale in November.

The French manufacturer has announced that Vandoorne will depart after this month’s Fuji round to be replaced by 2023 Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire, who will move into a full-time race seat next season after fulfilling a test and development role this year. 

Vandoorne is out of contract after Fuji and Peugeot Sport technical director Olivier Jansonnie hinted at last weekend’s Austin WEC round that there could be changes to the line-up in one of the two 9X8 2024 Le Mans Hypercars at Bahrain “to build for the future”.

Peugeot has already announced that Nick Cassidy will join its Hypercar roster for 2026, but there are no plans for him to race this year. 

Pourchaire will slot straight into Vandoorne’s seat in the #94 entry alongside Loic Duval and Malthe Jakobsen for the Bahrain 8 Hours on 8 November. 

Vandoorne, who joined Peugeot in a test role in 2023 before moving up to the race line-up the following season, has opted not to extend his contract and looks certain to join WEC newcomer Genesis for next year.

The South Korean marque has remained tight-lipped about additional signings beyond Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani, who were announced on the launch of the programme late last year and have handled initial testing of its GMR-001 Hypercar. 

But in Austin, Genesis Magma Racing team principal Cyril Abiteboul said that the marque’s line-up was “80% complete”. 

Peugeot Sport technical director Olivier Jansonnie thanked Vandoorne for his “professionalism, commitment, and all the experience he has shared with us over these two years”.

Giving Pourchaire a race before next season “represents a logical step in his integration into the Hypercar programme”, added Jansonnie.

“After a strong season in European Le Mans Series [driving an LMP2 ORECA-Gibson 07 for Algarve Pro] and steady progress, Theo has shown that he has the qualities required to perform at the highest level of endurance racing,” Jansonnie said.

“He quickly adapted to the discipline, and his commitment since the start of the project has been remarkable. Making his WEC debut in Bahrain naturally fits with his journey alongside the team.”

Vandoorne is not the only Peugeot driver likely to depart before next season. Danes Jakobsen and Mikkel Jensen are also believed to be out of contract at the conclusion of this year and appear to be in the frame to join McLaren for its Hypercar entry in 2027 with the British United Autosports squad.