Monte-Carlo 2002: When Loeb and Elena became greats

Before January 18, 2002, the references of the rally French on the stage of the World Rally Championship (WRC) were named Didier Auriol and Gilles Panizzi (Peugeot ). Titré en 1994, le premier nommé n’a pas été conservé par la marque au Lion est se rabat sur une Toyota Corolla privée, tandis que le spécialiste du tarmac représente les meilleurs espoirs face à ses équipiers Richard Burns et Marcus Grönholm, moins à l’aise sur ce terrain.

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Almost no one expects to see Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena (Citroën) damn the pawn of all these big names. The Alsatian and the Monegasque are only 27 and 29 years old, and come straight from the Junior WRC, which they crushed with their Saxo S1600. The San Remo 2001 allowed them to stand out (2nd behind… Panizzi) but this one-shot must be confirmed to be able to place the rookies in the ranks of the future greats.

The Monte-Carlo opens the WRC season and at the same time Citroën's break-in year before taking the plunge. The brand with the double chevrons has in fact planned to line up for seven rounds in anticipation of a full campaign in 2003. The watchwords are learning and getting up to speed at the wheel of a still very young Xsara WRC. .

Moreover, the person concerned does not expect to play the leading roles. “In Sanremo, I was in the mix but the Monegasque course is much more vicious, difficult and varied. Before leaving, I tried to reason with myself, positively. »

Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena were initially slowed down in their preparation by engine problems. Just like his teammates Philippe Bugalski and Tomas Radstrom, the engine block broke. Fortunately for Guy Fréquelin, the boss of Citroën Sport, the damage occurred during the shakedown for the Alsatian, who could thus benefit from a brand new element for the first special.
“I knew that the replacement engine came from an older series, dating from the Sanremo, will specify Loeb. I never had the fear that he would give in. »

The start is given on a dry road surface. Deliberately cautious so as not to disappoint his employer, Sébastien Loeb takes the rafters by the horns in the legendary Sisteron special. « I attacked like crazy, as I had decided. Compared to my rivals, I had a deficit in knowledge of the course and I wanted to compensate for it. From there, it was on! »

This method, basically quite simple, pays off. On the evening of the first stage, the red Citroën was at the top of the standings with 36 seconds over the blue Subaru Impreza of the outgoing three-time winner, Tommi Mäkinen. The second day involves a passage over the legendary Col du Turini at night, which Séb' masters thanks to a better choice of tires.

The tires, in fact, will torpedo the Frenchman's idyllic weekend. “Confidence returns, and I sleep well until breakfast when I am told that a two-minute penalty has been inflicted on us! » In fact, the commissioners imposed a two-minute penalty for an unauthorized tire change.

A short service (10 minutes) on Saturday evening was used by the French team to change the tires, while the car just had to go to the Parc Fermé in Monaco. This had no influence on the sporting conduct of the event, but according to the regulations, it was prohibited.

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Citroën Sport recognizes the fault but decides to appeal because according to the brand, the sanction is excessive. It destroys all the efforts made by the team's employees. A few days after arrival, Citroën did not win his case. Tommi Mäkinen obtains his 24th and final WRC success on the green carpet.

“The penalty imposed does not change the verdict of the special stages. This penalty, the consequence of an error as stupid as it is minimal, is not a disaster: I am young and I will have other opportunities », will explain Sébastien Loeb. He was damn right!

Guy Fréquelin congratulates Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena. © DPPI