World RX – Loeb: “I know I can win”

Sébastien Loeb can dream of achieving a second consecutive success this weekend by competing in the penultimate event of the World RX season in Estering (Germany), two weeks after having signed his first success in Rallycross in Bikernieki (Latvia).

“Unlike usual, I will tackle a track that I already know since I had the opportunity to conduct a day of testing on this circuit, underlined the nine-time champion of WRC. There aren't that many turns but they aren't easy. The first, in particular, is quite delicate. It's a very tight hairpin with a bit of asphalt on the inside and it's not easy to position yourself ideally to have good traction on the way out in view of the big stretch that follows. I think it's a corner that can quickly lead to big gaps. »

“Since the Riga race two weeks ago, I know I can win. Of course, it's even more motivating to know that you have the car for it. There's no reason why we can't fight for victory in Estering. The final podium in the Drivers’ Championship is still within reach”, added Sébastien Loeb who is 14 points behind third place occupied by Petter Solberg.

His teammate Timmy Hansen will also aim for the front, hoping to regain the 15 points that separate him from the Alsatian. The Swede was on the last step of the podium last year.

“It's a track full of history for me because my father often raced there and I remember seeing him win on this track on several occasions and fight for the European Championship. I also remember the level of performance of the Peugeot 208 WRX, last year », noted the Scandinavian.

Team Peugeot-Hansen will be well represented since the Peugeot Hansen Academy will also be making the trip with Kevin Hansen, the new Euro RX champion, and Davy Jeanney, winner in 2015 on the German round. The Franco-Swedish team is only eight points behind EKS in the Team Championship.