Loeb set for fourth try at Dakar Rally
Having recently scored his 79th career WRC victory in Spain last month, nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb has remained in the news.
During 2018 Loeb’s primary programme has been with Peugeot Sport in the World Rallycross Championship and the French star finished fourth in the championship following a podium finish at the final round in South Africa recently.
Peugeot has announced it will end its rallycross programme after this season which has raised speculation about an increased number of WRC outings for Loeb in 2019 — either with Citroen or raising speculation about a switch to another brand.
Loeb’s first 2019 event has been confirmed as a fourth attempt at the Dakar Rally.
There’s some element of surprise in the announcement as Loeb will drive a Red Bull-backed Peugeot 3008 DKR, although in a private effort run by long-time Peugeot and Citroen affiliated team PH Sport. Peugeot also ended its official Dakar programme following its third consecutive win in January this year.
Loeb and regular co-driver Daniel Elena will have one of the 2017 specification Peugeot’s for next year’s Dakar. Peugeot isn’t releasing any of the wide-body 3008 DKR Maxi models it developed for the 2018 race.
Loeb finished second in 2017 and has won 10 Dakar stages in his three previous starts.
Last January, Loeb dropped out of the rally after co-driver Daniel Elena suffered injuries in a hard landing from a jump during a stage in the heart of the Tanaka desert dunes in Peru. And it will be on this same type of terrain that he will have to battle if he wants to win his first Dakar.
“I like the dunes. The key to success on this type of terrain is not getting stuck in the sand,” he said.
“That’s what I’m going to focus on during the training. I decided to return to the Dakar at the last minute, but I still have a hunger for victory. We will most likely lack some preparation, but I haven’t forgotten everything I have learned over the past three years.”
Loeb’s Peugeot is one of three being run by PH Sport team alongside teammates Harry Hunt (GB) and Pierre Lachaume (France).
“I am ready to take on the challenge, just like I did in my three appearances in the World Rally Championship this year where success was anything but a forgone conclusion,” said Loeb.
Loeb’s former Peugeot teammates — Ste´ phane Peterhansel (France), Carlos Sainz (Spain) and Cyril Despres (France) — have all moved to the X-Raid Mini squad for the 2019 Dakar after the withdrawal of the factory Peugeot team. The other leading
Sebastien Loeb (right) and co-driver Daniel Elena celebrate their first WRC victory since 2013.
I AM READY TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE, JUST LIKE I DID IN MY THREE APPEARANCES IN THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR WHERE SUCCESS WAS ANYTHING BUT A FORGONE CONCLUSION.
Sebastien Loeb will drive a PH Sport prepared 2017 specification Peugeot 3008 DKR in next year’s Dakar Rally.
Dakar contenders include Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa which will field its Hilux V8 models for Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) and Giniel de Villiers (South Africa).
“They will be tough competitors. We have no idea how competitive we will be, but several crews will have a chance to win and I hope we will be one of them,” Loeb said.
The Dakar Rally has a new format
in 2019 with the 41st edition being run entirely within the borders of Peru. Set to start on January 6, the route will follow a loop itinerary with the start and finish in Lima. It will finish on January 17, making it three days shorter than this year’s event. The shortened Dakar itinerary makes it feasible for Loeb to compete in the Monte Carlo Rally — the opening WRC round of 2019 — on January 24-27.