FIA GT – Sébastien Loeb: “Everything comes together to achieve a good result”

This is Sébastien's new challenge Loeb. The nine-time world champion WRC will compete against the best GT drivers this weekend in Nogaro, as the FIA ​​GT Series season opens during the traditional Easter Races. Within the team he co-founded with Dominique Heintz? Sébastien Loeb Racing? the Alsatian will team up with Alvaro Parente, one of the most dynamic drivers in the discipline, aboard a McLaren MP4-12C GT3. After several intense test sessions to familiarize yourself with your new mount (see AH n°1902), the native of Haguenau is finally preparing to do battle. He looks back on this courageous new adventure, for him, as well as for his team which will participate here in its first major international competition.

“I did ten years of rallying in the World Championship (WRC) and after winning nine titles, I wanted to change, to see something else and to discover a new world”, explains Sébastien Loeb. “For me, it's a bit of a challenge: I have a lot to learn, it's a different style of driving against experienced drivers on their terrain. People expect results from me so is there a certain form of pressure? It's a new challenge and discovering both a new car and a new way of working makes the challenge even more motivating, more exciting. » The nine-time world champion also has a word about his new accomplice, Alvaro Parente. “I chose a teammate who is one of the best in GT. Potentially, Alvaro can be faster but that's also why I decided to ride with him: to have a GT reference to compare myself to and progress. I'm waiting for Nogaro with a certain impatience: no one will be able to hide their game and we will finally know where we stand, the team and I. This is a great first, so you also have to be patient. We are still in a discovery phase and we will gain momentum. » For the Alsatian, it is clear: “Everything comes together to produce a good result. »