Full Breakdown
Robert Shwartzman Signs with Peugeot for the 2027 World Endurance Championship
9/9/2026, 3:47:22 AM
Core Event: Driver addition to Peugeot’s Hypercar effort
Robert Shwartzman, the 26-year-old Russian-Israeli racer, has been confirmed as a driver for Team Peugeot TotalEnergies in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar class for the 2027 season. He will pilot one of the heavily revised 9X8 Le Mans Hypercars, marking his return to endurance racing after two seasons in the United States.
Background & Context
Shwartzman’s single-seater résumé includes a 2019 FIA Formula 3 championship, a 2021 FIA Formula 2 vice-championship, and reserve duties with Ferrari’s Formula 1 team (2022-2024). He entered endurance racing in 2023, winning the 2024 6-Hours of Austin in a Ferrari 499P with Robert Kubica and Yifei Ye. After a 2025 IndyCar stint with Prema Racing, the team’s withdrawal in early 2026 left him a free agent, paving the way for Peugeot’s signing.
Peugeot’s 9X8 Hypercar debuted at Monza in 2022. Over four seasons it has started 29 WEC races, earning four podiums, one pole and one fastest lap, but no wins or titles. The car is undergoing a full technical reset for 2027, abandoning the original rear-wing-less concept.
Data & Statistics
- Peugeot 9X8 record (2022-2026): 29 starts, 4 podiums, 1 pole, 1 fastest lap, 0 wins.
- Shwartzman’s Hypercar win: 2024 6-Hours of Austin.
- Driver age: 26 (born 1999).
- Upcoming test: Mid-September 2026 at the Algarve circuit; the first 2027-spec run occurred at Paul Ricard in late July.
Official Statements & Responses
Team principal Esnault said Shwartzman is already fully involved in preparing the 2027 program and will play an important role. Shwartzman expressed enthusiasm, noting he missed endurance racing during his U.S. stint and felt welcomed by Peugeot. He called the 2027 programme “particularly exciting.”
Peugeot also announced development driver Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy champion, will receive her first run in a 2026-spec 9X8 at Paul Ricard in early December after a planned Bahrain test was cancelled.
Why It Matters / Impact
Recruiting a driver with a Hypercar victory adds proven race-winning experience to a program that has struggled to reach the top step. The signing coincides with the pending departure of current Peugeot drivers Stoffel Vandoorne, Malthe Jakobsen and Theo Pourchaire, indicating a broader driver-lineup reshuffle ahead of 2027.
Timeline
- 2022: 9X8 debut at Monza.
- 2024: Shwartzman wins 6-Hours of Austin.
- 2025: Secures pole at the Indianapolis 500 with Prema Racing.
- Early 2026: Prema withdraws; Shwartzman becomes a free agent.
- Late July 2026: First run of the revised 2027-spec 9X8 at Paul Ricard.
- Mid-September 2026: Shwartzman’s inaugural test in the 2027-spec 9X8 at the Algarve circuit.
- Early December 2026: Doriane Pin’s first run in a 2026-spec 9X8 at Paul Ricard.
What’s Next
Peugeot will continue testing Shwartzman in the revised 9X8 through the remainder of 2026 while evaluating Pin for a potential test and reserve role. The final driver roster for the 2027 WEC season remains unsettled, with decisions on the remaining seats still pending.
