Théo Pourchaire to replace Stoffel Vandoorne for 8 Hours of Bahrain

Credit: Peugeot Sport

Théo Pourchaire is set the join the Peugeot squad from 2026 onwards, but firstly we will see him race the No.94 Peugeot 9X8 in Bahrain, in the place of out-going driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

Pourchaire has long be rumoured to be the frontrunner for a works Peugeot drive in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), with the French marque officially making the announcement this morning.

Since winning his Formula 2 championship in 2023, the French driver has gone on to compete in various single seater categories around the world, but after a test for Peugeot last Winter in Bahrain, he has shifted his focus to Endurance racing.

This year he joined up with Algarve Pro Racing (APR) in their European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and 24 Hours of Le Mans efforts, achieving moderate success in the LMP2 class. He has also been the development driver for Peugeot during this time.

Vandoorne, who he will replace, has raced the last two seasons in the 9X8, with limited success for the brand. His departure marks the beginning of what could be an off-season full of change for the Stellantis brand.

“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 the techincal director of Peugeot Sport, Olivier Jansonnie.

Jansonnie continued by adding “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 himself added "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 of yet, Vandoorne has not commented on the situation, but it is believed that he will soon be announced as a Genesis Magma Racing factory driver in their upcoming GMR-001 project. If the announcement is made, he would join Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani as the current factory drivers.

This announcement comes soon after the French brand signed Nick Cassidy as a driver for 2026, meaning there is still at least one of their current drivers departing at the end of 2025.