Sébastien Loeb's results at the Acropolis Rally

It's been in the air for a few days, it's now official! Sebastian Loeb will take the start of the next one Rally from the Acropolis from September 8 to 11. A first in ten years for him who had not been seen on Greek gravel since 2012.

Here we go again 🤩 @msportltd 🤝 @SebastienLoeb

Rally of the Gods 🇬🇷#WRC #MSPORTERS #Redbull #SFR #RichardMille #Vulcanet #Sparco #Indianmotorcyclefrance pic.twitter.com/pBbBxRseul

— M-Sport (@MSportLtd) August 10

Loeb like at home

Désormais pigiste pour M-Sport après avoir occupé ce rôle chez Citroën ou plus récemment chez Hyundai, l’Alsacien n’a pas choisi au hasard le Rallye de l’Acropole. Outre sa bonne position sur la route lors de la première journée (il sera dans les derniers à passer profitant ainsi d’une trajectoire plus propre), Sébastien Loeb jouit d’un excellent historique en Grèce où il a souvent pu imposer sa loi lors de son époque dorée en WRC.

If his first two participations in the premier category did not necessarily smile on him (7^e in 2002 and retirement in 2003), the nine-time champion then never left the podium in 8 participations with the exception of the 2009 edition where he was forced to retire after hitting a stone during SS7 while he was fighting for victory with Mikko Hirvonen.

In 2009, Sébastien Loeb was forced to retire. ©DPPI/F. Colon

Apart from his unfortunate retirement in 2009, Sébastien Loeb always appeared on the podium between 2004 and 2012, the year of his last title and his last full season in the WRC. Better yet, the Habs have never done worse than 2^e at the Acropolis with notably 3 victories (2005, 2008 and 2012) and 4 2^e places (2004, 2006, 2007 and 2011), all with Citroën of course.

Between 2004 and 2012, Sébastien Loeb only missed the podium once. ©DPPI/F. Flemish

Chances of victory for Loeb in Greece?

With 3 rallies in his legs this year (Monte-Carlo, Portugal and Kenya), Sébastien Loeb had no trouble being competitive, despite his age (48 years old) but also the discovery of a new car ( Ford Puma) equipped with the new hybrid technology of the premier category.

When he won for the 8th time at Monte-Carlo last January, he gave us a very good battle against Sébastien Ogier reminding us of the good old days and their past struggles. In Portugal and Kenya he also displayed great speed where he was often able to play up front. On Portuguese soil he had even been in the lead overall before losing everything due to a small driving error with enormous consequences.

With a good position in the running order and after the good things shown during his recent outings, there is no doubt that Sébastien Loeb will be a contender for victory at the Acropolis in a little less than a month.

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