Sébastien Loeb: “We attacked full force”

Lancé à la poursuite de Nasser Al-Attiyah et Mathieu Baumel (Toyota) au classement général, Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin (BRX) finished in third place in the 8th stage of the 2022 Dakar behind Matthias Ekström-Emil Bergkvist and Stéphane Peterhansel-Édouard Boulanger and took 7'01" from their rivals. “We pushed hard throughout the special, confided the nine-time world rally champion after the special. Fabian (Lurquin. Editor’s note) had a great navigation, he made no mistakes, we didn't have to look for the slightest waypoint. We rode really well at a good pace until km 28 where I punctured. We changed the wheel quickly and lost less than two minutes. We continue at a good pace until neutralization, and then we realize that we have lost our second spare wheel! We had 250 km left without a spare wheel, with no room for error. I was careful. I was careful in the stones, I didn't want to take the risk of puncturing. I knew we were making good time. I said to myself: “It would be stupid to lose everything there. » I preferred to play it “cool” at the end. I think at the end of the story it's not so bad. »

The Alsatian returns to the episode of the spare wheel: “It’s hanging on the side. I think it was the strap that broke. We will have to avoid that. I think it's not too complicated a problem to solve, because without a spare wheel you're a little uncomfortable. It's downright stressful. I saw that Nasser was not moving very quickly towards neutralization. I don't know what's wrong but I think I did a good SS. We'll see if this gives us hope. » The Qatari driver however started in the exhausts of Sébastien Loeb, but from the first crossing point, the three-time winner of the Dakar let go and continued to ride at a false pace. The outgoing winners of the Cross-Country Rally World Cup maintain an advantage of 37'58'' with four stages remaining.

ALSO READ > Dakar, Stage 8: Ekström narrowly wins, Loeb whips