Three days ahead of last week’s announcement that Toyota will be returning to endurance racing with a hybrid LMP1 prototype, the Peugeot 908 HYbrid4 was being tested in secret at Estoril.

Nicolas Minassian, Stéphane Sarrazin and Alex Wurz completed around 300km in the diesel/electric hybrid car. ”Our aim wasn’t to put a lot of kilometres on the clock, but to verify that all the chief functions performed,” reports Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director Bruno Famin. “The system functioned well and responded as predicted, which was very satisfying.”

“It was interesting to work with the engineers and get acquainted with the system, since the project is only in its early days. You can feel the extra power and it will be up to us to harness or adapt it in the most competitive way possible,” notes Stéphane Sarrazin.

The Peugeot 908 HYbrid4 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 2011, but its first scheduled track run at the pre-Le Mans Test Day on April 24 was cancelled. In the end, the 908 HYbrid4 turned a wheel for the first time on September 16 at a private PSA Peugeot Citroën venue ahead of its maiden test on October 11.

Peugeot has yet to provide details about the new car’s programme. In the 2012 ACO regulations, it is specified that the use of stored energy is only authorised via the front wheels and at speeds of beyond 120kph. There are also special safety clauses relating to the specific braking systems employed by hybrid vehicles.

Alex Wurz, FIA World Endurance Championship 2012, Nicolas Minassian, Peugeot 908 HYbrid4, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Stéphane Sarrazin