Loeb: “I’m going to rediscover the entire route”

After having come close to the feat at Rally from Mexico this month, Sébastien Loeb is about to get back behind the wheel of the Citroën C3 WRC by competing in the Tour de Corse next week. This will be the first entry on a 100% asphalt event in the WRC for the Alsatian and his co-driver Daniel Elena since the Rallye de France-Alsace where they retired after leaving the road.

“Having recently driven the C3 WRC on gravel, I quickly found my feet with it during our tests in Corsica, even if the surface was different, recalls the nine-time world champion. I started off based on Kris's settings and quickly put my finger on something very close, that suited me well. And the feeling is pretty good at the end of my days of riding. It remains to be seen where we will stand. »

Sébastien Loeb may have scored four consecutive victories at the Rallye des 10000 Virages between 2005 and 2008, but he will have to discover the entire course and will no longer have, unlike in Mexico, the advantage of his position on the road. His lack of knowledge of the new French specials will be partly made up due to the route being two-thirds revised compared to the previous edition.

“After our performance in Mexico, I hope to be back in the mix, especially as I have always been comfortable on asphalt, and especially on the Isle of Beauty, confirms Sébastien Loeb. It is in any case a destination, an event that I have always appreciated, even if it is far from being the most obvious. The roads seem to be faster than in my time, although there are still some narrow, technical and bumpy stages, but I'm going to rediscover the whole route and it's not going to be easy to have everything to write down. »

The Tour de Corse will begin this Thursday, April 5 with the Sorbo Ocagnano shakedown which will begin at 8 a.m.