Peugeot Hypercar Changes: Théo Pourchaire Moves to Formula E
Théo Pourchaire has confirmed his departure from Peugeot’s Hypercar program after a single season, opting to join Opel in Formula E for 2027. The 23-year-old French driver will race alongside Malthe Jakobsen and Stoffel Vandoorne, who also exit the Peugeot camp, while Robert Shwartzman and returning driver Jean-Éric Vergne will join Alex Quinn next season.
“I’ve learned a lot working with engineers and teammates,” Pourchaire stated at Monza. “Even if the results were challenging, it was a positive experience.” He expressed a long-term desire to return to Peugeot’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) lineup in the future.
Peugeot TotalEnergies has faced a tough 2026 season but remains hopeful for a strong finish, particularly with Monza’s track characteristics favoring the 9X8’s strengths. Team principal Emmanuel Esnault aims for a top-five finish, highlighting the car’s braking stability and average corner speeds.
“Our car is strong on braking,” Esnault remarked. “The target is to have our best car in the top five, which is one position higher than our best result so far.”
Looking ahead, Esnault clarified the decision to field Quinn for the final two races instead of debuting Shwartzman early, citing Quinn’s need for experience in a more complex organizational environment.
“As for Robert, he has experience in IndyCar and F1, so we believe Alex will gain more from this,” he explained.
With Pourchaire’s transition and strategic driver changes, Peugeot aims to reposition itself in the competitive landscape of endurance racing, eyeing a return to prominence at events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
