What are the most read articles in 2023 on AUTOhebdo?

10 – Sonora Rally – Sébastien Loeb and Fabien Lurquin in accidents!

Sonora Rally – Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin in accidents!

Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin (Bahrain Raid Xtreme) were betting big on the Sonora Rally, scene of the third round of the W2RC in Mexico. The Franco-Belgian tandem started the event flat-footed, but after only 12 km in the 3rd stage, the BRX T1+ fell into a ditch and came to rest on its roof! Both pilots escaped unharmed.

9 – Pikes Peak – Alpine and Dumas on the podium, Shute retains his title

Pikes Peak – Alpine and Dumas on the podium, Shute retains his title

For his first participation in Pikes Peak, Alpine scored a fine podium with Raphaël Astier aboard the A110 Pikes Peak, behind Romain Dumas and his Ford SuperVan. Already a winner in 2022, Robin Shute won the 101st edition of the American hill climb last June.

8 – Azores Rally – Yannick Willocx, Loeb engineer in the Azores: “I felt useless…”

Yannick Willocx, Loeb engineer in the Azores: “I felt useless…”

At 37 years old, Yannick Willocx has experience. Having worked for Skoda and Hyundai, the Belgian has collaborated with Kalle Rovanperä, Esapekka Lappi, Jan Kopecky, Dani Sordo and now Sami Pajari at Toksport. He will remember his Rally of the Azores with Sébastien Loeb, which the Frenchman won in April 2023 with a Skoda Fabia Rally2.

7 – WEC – Parts “sealed” at the 24 2023 Hours of Le Mans

Parts “sealed” at the 24 2023 Hours of Le Mans

A few days after arrival, several parts were seized during post-race inspections of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023. Particularly on the side of the Polish team Inter Europol Competition, victorious in the LM P2 category. Finally, the No. 34 was cleared of all suspicion a few weeks later, and the final classification could be ratified.

6 – F1 – McLaren will test a world first in Austin

McLaren to test world first in F1 in Austin

McLaren continues to innovate Formula 1. A year after testing dynamic sponsorship via digital panels installed near the cockpit, the British team introduced a new material on its MCL60 during the United States Grand Prix in Austin. There car orange was equipped with cockpit marking panels made of recycled carbon fiber (rCF), a first in the discipline.

5 – WRC – The feat of Loeb and Biasion which could decide Ogier to aim for the title in 2023

The feat of Sébastien Loeb and Miki Biasion which could decide Sébastien Ogier to aim for the title in 2023

When Sébastien Ogier was championship leader WRC, after the Rally of Mexico and this, despite a missed event, the Gapençais could have found himself in the possibility of chasing a ninth title even without competing in all the remaining events on the calendar. If Sébastien Loeb in 2006 and Miki Biasion in 1988 had succeeded, the pilot Toyota did not follow the same path.

4 – WEC – BoP: For the president of Toyota, the pill does not pass

BoP: For the president of Toyota, the pill does not pass

Despite the fair play and the good words of Pascal Vasselon at the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the ranks of Toyota, we did not take off after the late change of BoP decided only 10 days before the race, which notably handicapped the Japanese firm facing the winners of the Centenary edition, Classic Ferrari for sale.

3 – Formula E – Fire prematurely ends first day of testing

Fire ends first day of testing prematurely

The first day of pre-season testing Formula E, in Valencia, was marked by a fire in a garage forcing management to cease activities on the track. The fire broke out in the garage of WAE Limited (the championship's exclusive battery supplier) when a battery in the car used by Robert Shwartzman (DS Penske) caught fire.

2 – Pikes Peak – Sébastien Loeb: “It was a dangerous race, I was happy to finish it”

Sébastien Loeb: “It was a dangerous race, I was happy to finish”

A few days before the 2023 edition of Pikes Peak, Sébastien Loeb returned to his own attempt ten years earlier aboard the Peugeot 208 T16. An extraordinary experience of which he still had fond memories.

1 – WRC – Craig Breen died in an accident in Croatia

Craig Breen dies in Croatia accident

Unfortunately, the most read article in 2023 concerns one of the biggest dramas of the year with the tragic disappearance of Craig Breen. The Hyundai driver was killed in an accident during private testing ahead of the Croatia Rally. A shock for the world of rallying and motorsport, already in mourning a few months earlier by the death of Ken Block in January. On July 1, the young Dilano van’t Hoff will join this sad list by being the victim of a fatal accident during a FRECA race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium).

ALSO READ > Our Top 50 drivers of the year… (5th to 1st)