LOEB SHINES ON CITROEN WRC RETURN
French ace ‘comfortable’ after gravel miles
Sebastien Loeb has told Motorsport News he’s satisfied he still has the pace to compete in the World Rally Championship following his latest test in a Citroen C3 WRC.
After driving a C3 WRC for the first time on asphalt in July, the Frenchman made his debut in a current generation World Rally Car on gravel in Spain last week. Loeb admitted he would be interested in more time in the C3 and the potential for a limited WRC programme in 2018.
The nine-time world champion joined Citroen’s three-day development test, driving the test C3 after Stephane Lefebvre and before Kris Meeke.
Loeb said: “I don’t know how many kilometres [I did], but a lot and the feeling was good. It was nice to discover this car on gravel. For me it’s nearly five years I haven’t driven a World Rally Car on gravel.”
Loeb’s final gravel WRC outing was in Argentina, 2013, but his fulltime programme ended with that ninth title in Spain, 2012.
Loeb added: “It was a question if I would be able to drive with the WRC on gravel and if I would be able to drive correctly. The feeling was quite good and it came quite quickly. I feel comfortable.”
Loeb’s only concern was at the lack of grip from the rear in faster sections, comments that immediately mirror those of the other Citroen drivers.
He continued: “For me, it was quite a good surprise the feeling I could get in the car – but I don’t have any other reference of this generation of car, so I don’t know how [we are compared with] the other cars.
“In the twisty section I find it quite easy to drive, in the fast section it’s a bit more pointy and a bit more like it is on Tarmac – it’s more difficult to feel the grip on the rear in these places, but except for this it’s OK. It’s good. We are working to find more grip now. We are looking at different solutions now, we look to find something better. Overall it’s not bad.”
Moving forward from last week’s test, Loeb admitted he had to talk to team principal Yves Matton about the future – but added that a return to WRC competition was possible.
“There’s no plan at the moment,” he said. “I had opportunities to test on gravel and Tarmac and I did this; it’s nice to get some sensations from rallying again and to bring my experience to the team. I’m still waiting for the decision of [current employer] Peugeot and this would be one of the main things. Why not another test? At the moment I am quite busy, but we will talk and decide what to do for the future.”
As interesting as a possible WRC return is to Loeb, he remains committed to the FIA World Rallycross Championship for next season – providing Peugeot can equip him with a car capable of toppling the sport’s all-conquering PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team.
“If we continue the rallycross then we will try to take it seriously,” said Loeb. “Volkswagen came this year with a high level because they use their experience
and their car from last year; this car was developed with the WRC budget during a few years. Now they [PSRX Volkswagen Sweden] don’t need a lot of budget, they take the World Rally Car, adapt it to the rallycross and that’s it. The cars we have are good, but maybe not at the level of WRC. If we continue then we try to improve the car. We have a few ideas of what we have to do to reach the level of Volkswagen. I don’t know if it will be possible, but we have to try.
“If we do this then, for sure, this would be my main programme [next season] and this is what I’m hoping for at the moment. But I don’t have the decision, so I don’t know. If this is the case, why not do a rally or two?”
Loeb admitted the seasonopening Monte Carlo Rally, an event he has won a record seven times, would be of interest to him. The 43-year-old’s last WRC outing came on the 2015 Monte – a rally he led early on before sliding off the road and damaging the DS 3 WRC.
“Sure, the Monte Carlo Rally would be interesting,” said Loeb. “It’s one of the rallies where I have a good feeling and I always enjoy it, but it’s complicated with Dakar. We finish Dakar on the Saturday and the recce for Monte starts on the Monday. Like I said, it’s complicated, it would be really short [preparation time] and not the best way to start. But it is possible.”
Loeb added that more time testing the C3 would be necessary ahead of an event as complex as Monte Carlo.
“It would depend on the conditions,” he said. “Sometimes Monte can be more of a Tarmac rally, but the ice can make it complicated. And if I’ve never tested the car on snow and it’s snowing all the race then it won’t be easy.”
Loeb dodged questions about performances in this year’s WRC – especially those of potential Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier. He said: “I didn’t really see anything in the WRC this year. I saw some results, so I know who won but I don’t know more.”