Since Sebastien Loeb's historic win at WRC Spain at the weekend, speculation has been rife about what the Frenchman will do next with his prodigious talent. Clearly the 44 year-old hasn't lost anything in terms of raw speed, and with Peugeot out of World Rallycross, it would seem a shame for him to be at a loose end for 2019.
Turns out he won't be, of course, with news of Loeb's entry into the 2019 Dakar as a Red Bull privateer. Of course the nine-time WRC champ has been here before (with co-driver Daniel Elena), the pair taking on Dakar with Peugeot in 2016, 2017 and 2018 - they were runners up in 2017, no less. But this will be the first time the two have entered without manufacturer backing; conscious, no doubt, on the fact that a private entrant has not won the Dakar since Jean-Louis Schlesser drove his Schlesser-Renault buggy to triumph in 2000. And yes, Red Bull isn't exactly a hotchpotch operation building cars in a shed, but a private entry is still a private entry.
The car they'll be driving is a 2017 version of the Peugeot 3008DKR, as opposed to the wider DKR Maxi used this year because of a regulation change for 2019. Rivals include names familiar to the Dakar for many years now: Nani Roma in the Mini, Stephane Peterhansel in another Peugeot 3008 and Carlos Sainz. Mikko Hirvonen will also take part in 2019, driving a Team X-Raid Mini buggy.
Tough competition, then, something Loeb is all too aware of with just over two month to go before the start in Lima: "We're probably lacking some preparation compared to the others: equally I didn't forget everything I learned over the last three years. It's an adventure that I'm looking forward to experiencing again."
The 41st Dakar takes place from 6th-17th January, with a 5,000km loop across 10 stages - 70 per cent of that will be in the Peruvian dunes. Loeb describes the upcoming rally as a "fantastic challenge", like his 2018 WRC adventure "where success was far from guaranteed." That's as may be, but it would take a brave person to bet against him - wouldn't it?
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