World RX – “A mixed season” for Loeb

The team Peugeot -Hansen hoped to regain the advantage against EKS at the end of the World RX final in Rosario (Argentina) despite being 17 points behind, but the 208 fell against the Audi S1 ​​who secured the Team title for the Swedish structure after the Drivers’ title won in Estering (Germany) by Mattias Ekström.

Sébastien Loeb failed at the gates of the final by taking 4th place in his semi-final after having a stormy start.

“It was a bit of an eventful weekend, recognized Sébastien Loeb. It rained very hard the first day and that didn't help us. Then, it was pretty good in the following rounds even if I think we lacked a little speed. In the semi-final, it was a bit chaotic at the first corner. I was well positioned to come out of the first corner in 2nd but I got pushed. I found myself outside. I tried to get back to 3rd place but it didn't happen. The results of the season are mixed. We performed well in some races, less in others. We still have work to do. »

His teammate Timmy Hansen was even less successful since he did not make it through qualifying. The Swede had particular difficulty finding the right settings with the rainy conditions encountered during the qualifying heats.

“Obviously, it’s not the best way to end the season, commented the son of the boss Kenneth Hansen. We were slow in the rain in Q1. We then made different choices, Sébastien and I for Q2. The setting I adopted was not good. I therefore started from afar in Q3 and Q4 but the track conditions changed so much that my times were quickly exceeded, the others benefiting from a less wet track than me. I am disappointed by this result, of course. »

Kenneth Hansen was obviously disappointed not to have been able to resist more against EKS in Rosario.

“We were confident after the draw but it started raining just before our race in Q1 and we couldn't do anything against the times achieved in the other races, regretted the team director. For Q2, we tested two completely different setting options. Sébastien's was the right one. In Q3 and Q4, Sébastien continued to do well, placing fourth at the end of the qualifying heats. Unfortunately, after a closely fought semi-final, he was unable to secure his place in the final. It's not the end of the season we were hoping for. It’s up to us to work this winter to regain the world title in 2017.”

Discover the report of the World RX in Rosario in issue 2091 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.