DOOROPENFORLOEBWRCRETURN

Photos: Red Bull Content Pool, mcklein-imagedatabase.com, Citroen GROUP RALLYING EDITOR

Citroen boss Linda Jackson has told Motorsport News the door is open for a full-time World Rally Championship return for Sebastien Loeb in 2019.

The Frenchman won stages but ruled himself out of a possible win in Corsica last weekend when he slid off the road and out of second place on the second test. He returned on day two. Jackson said Loeb’s effect was being felt throughout the team and said the question of a possible 2019 deal would be addressed in time.

“You need to ask me that question later in the season,” she said, “but that (a full-time return) would depend completely on Sebastien and his availability and what he wants to do.”

Loeb is only scheduled to compete on one more event in 2018, on Rally Spain in October, but questioned on the potential for him competing in Germany in June, Jackson added: “With Sebastien it’s three rallies, it’s his agenda and his diary.”

When asked if his Corsican speed had done anything to tempt him back, Loeb affirmed his want for a break.

“It’s the summer,” he said, “and it’s still time for the beach. What happened in Corsica, it’s frustrating. I saw really in the first stage the rhythm was good. I could fight, a nice fight and have fun and then finally everything stopped in the first corner of the second stage.

“Without the puncture in Mexico and this here, it could have been two nice results, but now it’s not.”

Team principal Pierre Budar shared Loeb’s frustrations, adding: “It got more and more frustrating with every fastest time he set! But this is the game.

“We didn’t talk about anything for later in the year – I read in the press he will be on the beach [for Germany] and I haven’t tried to persuade him to come off the beach yet!”