THE DRIVER

Born in Haguenau, France, in 1974, Sébastien Loeb traded a promising future in gymnastics for the precision of motor racing, quickly establishing himself as a talented rally driver with a particular penchant for asphalt surfaces. After winning the Junior WRC drivers’ championship in 2001, Loeb and long-time navigator Daniel Elena were promoted to a full WRC programme with Citroën Racing in 2002.

Loeb won the first of his nine consecutive WRC drivers’ world titles in 2004 and, since his official retirement from the sport in 2012, remains the most successful driver in WRC history. In 2004, he became the first non-nordic driver to win Rally Sweden.

Having previously tested with Formula One, Loeb also holds three Race of Champions titles; has to date competed in three Dakar Rallies and two 24 Hours of Le Mans races; holds an X Games Rallycross gold medal; broke the Pikes Peak hillclimb record with Peugeot in 2013; and is a regular contender in the current Global Rallycross Championship.

Recognised with a knighthood in France’s Légion d’honneur in 2009, Loeb was a consultant during the developent stages of the cult racing video game Gran Turismo 5.