Argentina: Loeb on conquered ground

“We have never started a Championship so well. Obviously, in Argentina, I don’t see what we could aim for other than victory,” sums up the five-time World Champion soberly. " This rally brings back good memories for me overall, not just because we won the last four editions. I really like the stages and the atmosphere that reigns thanks to the spectators. Like the welcome we received two weeks ago in Portugal, it is always pleasant to feel the passion that drives the countries we visit. Are there people everywhere, in the service park, on the links, in the special stages? It's almost useless to follow the road book, because the route is marked by the crowd! »

Last year, Sébastien and Daniel won during a particularly rainy edition: “This victory was not easy to achieve. In certain stages, the hard gravel tires were unsuitable for the conditions and we came close to going off the qualifying road several times. This year, it is the soft version of the Pirelli Scorpion which has been selected and that?s a good thing. These tires will undoubtedly be more versatile, unless it is very hot and they deteriorate very quickly. In this regard, it is appropriate to highlight the excellent work carried out by Pirelli. They were faced with a big challenge and they managed to design a range that was both efficient and resistant. For example, we were worried about the disappearance of anti-puncture foam, but today no one talks about it anymore. »

Appeared in Portugal, the 2009 evolution of the C4 WRC started his career with a victory. According to Loeb, it is a happy omen for the rest of the season: “The Rally of Portugal offered a fairly classic typology for the WRC. All rallies are different, but a car that is efficient in the Algarve will also be efficient in Argentina, Sardinia, Greece, Poland? The Argentinian special stages are characterized by fairly sandy ground, which makes the surface very slippery. From a technical point of view, I found that the 2009 homologation of the C4 WRC brought a ?plus? at the level of suspensions in certain conditions. I particularly remember a double bump on which I almost went off the road in 2007. This time, the C4 landed like a breeze... As for the engine, I found it easier to use. According to the curves of the engine bench there are a few more horsepower, but I didn't really notice it while driving. In any case, it’s always good to have! »