Théo Pourchaire to Replace Stoffel Vandoorne for 8 Hours of Bahrain

In a significant shift for the World Endurance Championship, Théo Pourchaire will make his debut behind the wheel of the No.94 Peugeot 9X8 during the 8 Hours of Bahrain, stepping in for Stoffel Vandoorne, who will depart the team after two seasons.

The 2023 Formula 2 champion has long been linked with a factory seat at Peugeot, and the rumors have now been confirmed, with the French manufacturer officially announcing Pourchaire’s inclusion in the lineup. While Pourchaire is expected to fully join the squad in 2026, the Bahrain round will mark his first appearance for the marque in the Hypercar category.

After claiming the F2 title, Pourchaire tested the Peugeot 9X8 last winter in Bahrain, a key step toward his transition to endurance racing. In 2024, he has competed in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Algarve Pro Racing (APR), achieving steady progress in the highly competitive LMP2 class. Concurrently, he has served as a development driver for the Peugeot hypercar program.

Vandoorne exits Peugeot following an underwhelming stint with the team. Despite his experience and pedigree, results in the 9X8 remained limited, prompting Peugeot to begin reshaping its lineup.

“On behalf of Team Peugeot TotalEnergies, I would like to thank Stoffel for his professionalism, commitment, and all the experience he has shared with us over these two years. The whole team wishes him the very best for the future of his career,” said Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport.

Jansonnie also praised Pourchaire’s development and potential: “After a strong season in ELMS and steady progress, Théo has shown that he has the qualities required to perform at the highest level of endurance racing. He quickly adapted to the discipline, and his commitment since the start of the project has been remarkable.”

Pourchaire expressed his enthusiasm at this new chapter in his career: “I am proud to represent Peugeot, a brand with a rich motorsport history that has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I can’t wait to take the start of this legendary race in the top category behind the wheel of the PEUGEOT 9X8.”

As for Vandoorne, he has yet to issue a public statement regarding his departure. However, it is strongly speculated that he will be announced as a factory driver for the upcoming Genesis Magma Racing (GMR) project. Should the move be confirmed, he will join seasoned racers Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani in the ambitious GMR-001 hypercar program.

This driver shift follows Peugeot’s recent signing of Nick Cassidy for 2026, suggesting that further changes are on the horizon for the Stellantis-backed brand.

Team V.DIR-EM-UAE