World RX – Loeb: “We are clearly in the game”

The World RX weekend at Hockenheim started off well for Sébastien Loeb with two victories in the first qualifying rounds, but the rain did not help the Alsatian driver in his quest for a first success in 2017.

Third in his semi-final, the nine-time world rally champion took the gamble of starting on wet tires in the final on a German track that had become very tricky. A choice that did not pay off.

“The track conditions were really precarious and slippery. [In the semi-final] I was in the lead at the first corner but I got passed and then I made a little mistake.

In the final, I went on wet tires. It wasn't the best choice and I couldn't gain any position. »

After two difficult first weekends, the Team Peugeot -Hansen proved his speed by concluding the German meeting with a podium for Timmy Hansen. As for Sébastien Loeb, fifth in the final, the overall result offers good hopes for the next meetings.

“It’s very positive. We must continue to progress, starting at Mettet. It's a circuit that I like. It was a success for me last year since I scored my first podium there in rallycross »

In the drivers' championship, Loeb moved up to 4th position, 37 points behind Mattias Ekström.

Find the full report of the Hockenheim World RX event, produced by our special correspondent in Germany, in issue 2113 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version, and this Wednesday on newsstands.