Loeb: “Pikes Peak is my American dream”

Sébastien Loeb is preparing to compete in the famous Pikes Peak event for the first time at the wheel of the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak which was presented today. The nine-time WRC world champion is eager to take on this new challenge.

Published on 15/04/2013 à 15:09

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After dominating the WRC for nine seasons, Sébastien Loeb takes on new challenges in car racing while keeping one foot in rally since he will be at the start of the next Rally Argentina held from May 2 to 5. If the Alsatian is entered this season in the FIA GT Series, he will also be at the start of the famous Pikes Peak event at the wheel of a Peugeot 208 T16 specially prepared to face the 20km climb in the Unlimited category. “A crazy climb with more than 150 turns”, begins the Citroën driver. “The start is at an altitude of 2000m and the finish line is over 4300m. Add to that some pretty impressive blind turns and ditches and the scene is set. Pikes Peak is a bit like trying to climb Mont Blanc on a road with a racing car! »

The Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak uses the rear wing of the 908 as well as a very aggressive front splitter. The final decoration will be revealed soon. “Speaking of the car, that’s something that also attracted me”, adds the nine-time world champion. “With the Unlimited class, Pikes Peak allows drivers to drive unique cars. Almost everything is allowed: two or four-wheel drive, with or without turbo, prototype or silhouette, hybrid or not. I like this diversity as well as the idea of driving an atypical car, at least one that has a philosophy different from what I already know. I do not forget to thank Citroën for allowing me to engage with Peugeot. »

Sébastien Loeb is looking for new sensations after conquering the world of rallying. The Frenchman had already traveled to the USA to compete in the X-Games where he won again. “On a different level, Pikes Peak reminds me a little of my experience last year when I drove a Citroën DS3 XL at the X-Games. It was a new type of racing with a relatively new car although I already knew the basics. I had faced new opponents and it had been refreshing. I can't wait to return to an unknown world with an incomparable ordeal. It's a myth, a motorsport classic. I didn't have many opportunities to ride in the USA during my career. I admit it, Pikes Peak is my American dream. »

Discover Sébastien Loeb’s Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak in our gallery. The Peugeot Sport teaser can be found on this link.