Things haven’t been going so well for Citroen in the WRC recently. Well, that’s not entirely true; the Citroen team has had plenty of success in the first three events – but it’s all been at the hands of their golden boy Sebastien Loeb. And with Loeb only contesting four rounds of the championship this year, that won’t actually mean much when push comes to shove.
Could Loeb help Citroen back to winning ways?
Sadly for Citroen, their number two driver Mikko Hirvonen hasn’t fared so well, a reasonable fourth and a disastrous 17th in the first two events causing him to languish behind. Only a second-place finish in
Mexico last weekend
has brought him up to third place in the championship, behind Loeb and miles off championship leader Sebastien Ogier. So it’s no surprise that, according to
Autosport
, the Citroen team could well be trying to persuade Loeb to return to more rallies this year to save their bacon.
Commenting on the matter, Citroen’s team principal Yves Matton suggested that the ball was in Loeb’s court. “I think, you know, it's not my decision,” he said. “I think he doesn't want to, maybe. At the end of the season, if I ask him to do one rally and with this rally we will be champion, then for sure I will ask.”
Loeb's ELMS campaign is on the rocks
The news comes as Loeb’s endurance racing team, Sebastien Loeb Racing, confirms its withdrawal from the European Le Mans Series this year after a key sponsor (nothing to do with Citroen - honest) pulled out, leaving the team bereft of the financial support it required. As a result, the team won’t contest this year’s Le Mans, and will have to make do with racing a McLaren MP4-12C in the FIA GT Championship or a 911 GT3 Cup in the French Porsche Carrera Cup. Coincidence, eh?