Loeb: “A completely crazy rally”

Sébastien Loeb (Citroen C4 WRC) will have experienced a very special New Zealand weekend, displaying impressive pace in most of the weekend's specials, but finishing third overall after being penalized by three faults, including two on this last day in the legendary special of Whaanga Coast.

At the start of the day, the six-time World Champion was 5??3 behind Sébastien Ogier (Citroën C4 WRC), who was going to make a mistake on SS18, the first special of the day. His eldest took the opportunity to take the lead Rally, before losing time in the following special (Whaanga Coast 1). “ We were in a very narrow and winding section, explained Loeb at the end of this special. There was a right turn that I had a little overestimated. There was a lot of gravel and the car understeered before hitting a tree. The bodywork has suffered, but the mechanics are intact and we will be able to continue after a few repairs at the service. We are now fourth, around twenty seconds behind, everything is still possible! »

The Frenchman would actually make up for his delay in the second loop, being in a position to win a few kilometers from the finish of the last time. But, in the second pass of Whaanga Coast, Sébastien Loeb once again made a mistake. Victory eluded him but, at the end of this difficult rally, the Alsatian was satisfied with his third place in the final.

« We tried everything and we were constantly on the edge. Once again, it did not happen! We finished third and that?s not such a bad result considering the adventures of the last three days? This rally allows us to maintain a good lead in the World Championship, so I leave rather satisfied. »

In addition, Sébastien Loeb is delighted to finish a rally which he finishes on the podium, after a race full of twists and turns. “ It was a completely crazy rally. Ups and downs all the time. We lose a minute and a half the first day, we make up for it the second day. We take the lead after the first special of the last day, we go off the road in the next one, we find ourselves fourth. We go back up in the next one, we spin again in the last one. We finished third but we finished, and it?s not so bad. »

With three errors which cost him victory, Sébastien Loeb admits that he did not spare his C4 WRC. “ I have never put a car in this condition. We hit all sides of the car. We started with the door on the left, the right wing in the afternoon, the left wing the next day, the front right side today, the rear this afternoon. Given the time we had to go back, we had to fight for every tenth. It’s true that we really tore each other apart. »