Friday 15th March 2013

Loeb return to WRC possible, say Citroen

Loeb withdraws from Le Mans just as Citroen hints his services may be needed in WRC...

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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?

[Sources: Autosport]

[RX7]

Curious to this, apart from the possibilities of the trophy case increasing and stigma attached to them winning again, how will it benefit Citreon, will they sell more cars because of it?

[cvega]

does anyone even follow WRC still ? surely the same guy winning 7 or however many years in a row must be boring... it was the same with F1, when Schumacher won over and over again.

[ArnageWRC]

A shame, was looking forward to seeing him at Le Mans. However, it was never definite he was going to drive in the ELMS and Le Mans, which is why maybe the sponsorship fell through.

It just smacks of desperation from Citroen........

[Krikkit]

RX7 said:

Curious to this, apart from the possibilities of the trophy case increasing and stigma attached to them winning again, how will it benefit Citroén, will they sell more cars because of it?

Do they have an agreement similar to F1 where there is a large chunk of sponsor/prize money depending on constructor positions? Presumably that would mean the difference between making a loss and breaking even/profit.

[Slippydiff]

Would be brilliant for the WRC, Ogier V's Loeb, cracking competition Grommet.

[Mastodon2]

Slippydiff said:

Would be brilliant for the WRC, Ogier V's Loeb, cracking competition Grommet.

Except it wouldn't, because Loeb would crush the competition as usual until his heart was not in it anymore. The only time Loeb will start losing is when he can't be bothered to push himself to win anymore, and if he doesn't want to rally that will start happening. I don't blame him for wanting to do something that is less physically intense and less time-intensive.

[Craiglamuffin]

Being selfish for a moment, this is part of what makes it so hard to be a fan of any motorsport other than F1.

In F1 when a driver signs up for a team it's likely he'll be there for the year. So if you end up rooting for someone, you can be fairly confident they'll be in the next race. You might even buy a T-Shirt with their name on.

In Le Mans, FIA GT, WRC etc. you watch, you enjoy, you just start to get attached then.... "Team X pulled out today due to a lack of funding".

I know it's so tough for the teams. It's just unlikely the sport will build up the fanbase they seem to want, if there's no consistency.

[GrizzlyBear]

My big problem for me with WRC has been the patchy TV coverage (I don't have sky). I ended up missing a few events and it became less interesting. Just hope the coverage improves this year.

If Loeb returns he will dominate again, I am not sure that is a good thing.

[Crow555]

ITV4 has started showing WRC as of this weekend. In fact it's repeated tomorrow morning at 10am. It wasn't shown at all last year.

[Emeye]

Mastodon2 said:

Slippydiff said:

Would be brilliant for the WRC, Ogier V's Loeb, cracking competition Grommet.

Except it wouldn't, because Loeb would crush the competition as usual until his heart was not in it anymore. The only time Loeb will start losing is when he can't be bothered to push himself to win anymore, and if he doesn't want to rally that will start happening. I don't blame him for wanting to do something that is less physically intense and less time-intensive.

bks. Ogier v Loeb / Citroen v VW would be a fantastic battle. Just what WRC needs. We even have WRC on ITV4 in HD this year!

[DodoRacing]

Didn't quite get why Hirvonen is not performing better. He was a more fierce competitor when he was at Ford. Was Ford the btetter car I wonder? That would indicate that Loeb was even better.

Anyhow, a season long battle of the two Sebs would be a treat but I doubt it will happen. Otherwise, it appears that no one will be able to challenge Ogier this year.

[iva cosworth]

Citroen,just WTF ?

He wants to stop,at the top and just because Hirvonen and Sordo aren't Loeb ,you panic

and ask him back.

Ogier and VW win 2 rallies and Citroen have a kneejerk reaction.

Loebs "retirement" seems to be busier than when he was a fulltime WRC driver.

ELMS,Le Mans, developing a WTCC C4,driving an ice racer last week too.

[Mitch2.0]

I'm not a Loeb fan, in fact I think him winning 9 titles on the trot has damaged WRC in general, teams pulling out, less money, less coverage, just less interest in general.

However credit where it's due, what does he do it for if not to win? He's the greatest rally driving by a country mile, and in 40 years time when they do a program on TV about him we'll all nod and admit, yep; the guy was a legend.

[fttm]

Nothing against Loeb , but the WRC is as boring as hell nowadays thanks to his relentless championships , the oh so st shopping trollies and the rules which make every WRC round a two day sprint during daylight hours . Would like to see him on the Roger Albert in a proper car , any one know whether he's done rwd before ?
I'll be following West Cork this weekend , damn site more entertaining than any WRC bkS .

[Baryonyx]

fttm said:

Nothing against Loeb , but the WRC is as boring as hell nowadays thanks to his relentless championships

It's a bit silly to decry his talent like that. Or indeed, as some have suggested, ban him from competing just because he is the best. How spiteful! If anything, when Loeb drives, you should just concentrate on who will make 2nd and 3rd if battling in the rankings is what turns you on. I've always enjoyed watching Loeb drive and will continue to do so, whether or not he remains a regular fixture in the WRC.

[fttm]

FFS ? read my post and inwardly digest , then come back and tell me where I was decrying his talent .

[ArnageWRC]

iva cosworth said:

Citroen,just WTF ?

He wants to stop,at the top and just because Hirvonen and Sordo aren't Loeb ,you panic

and ask him back.

Ogier and VW win 2 rallies and Citroen have a kneejerk reaction.

Loebs "retirement" seems to be busier than when he was a fulltime WRC driver.

ELMS,Le Mans, developing a WTCC C4,driving an ice racer last week too.

Exactly, He was never retiring though; it was a career change, but the Rally journos chose to describe it as 'retirement'. Theres a whole world of Motorsport out there besides the WRC, and Seb would like to try his and at it. He will do the FiA GT Sprint series in a McLaren. Sadly, he's pulled his entry from Le Mans and the ELMS.....due to a sponsor falling through......

[EDLT]

I was going to comment but it looks like this is another "Everything outside of F1 is st" thread.

[Emeye]

EDLT said:

I was going to comment but it looks like this is another "Everything outside of F1 is st" thread.

At least they don't generally postpone the racing in WRC when it is raining.

[anonymous-user]

I totally agree with Citroen. Get Loeb back in the car please. I honestly think it could be one of the best WRC years in a very long time if Loeb was to contest the rest of the season. I would not be suprised if Ogier would end the Championship run of Loeb even if he was to return.