French driver Sebastien Loeb will return to the World Rally Championship next season. His new team, M-Sport Ford, made the official announcement this Tuesday and confirmed the entry of the most successful rally driver in history at the Monte Carlo Rally 2022 (January 20 to23), the inaugural round of the championship. It is yet to be revealed the remaining of his schedule for the year, but he is most likely to take part in the competition on a part-time basis.
The announcement has confirmed the persistent rumours linking the nine-time French champion with the British team. The voices speculating about his possible return to action with the Cumbrian team became increasingly louder after his taking part in both test sessions with the new Ford Puma Rally 1.
For the first one, Sebastien Loeb got behind the wheel of the blue hybrid car on October 19 in Spain. A month later (November 25) he repeated the experience on the alpine roads of his home country, which are to host the first challenge of the champaign.
Negotiations are known to have been going on for several months between Sebastien Loeb himself, his sponsors and the team. Now, with this agreement, the 47-year-old will be able to go back to the competition and drive a fourth Ford Puma for the season opener at the end of January.
https://twitter.com/MSportLtd/status/1473267003771154435
Seb Loeb, new car & co-driver at Ogier’s house
Sebastien Loeb will start this new stage of his career in just one month’s time, accompanied by his new co-pilot, Isabelle Galmiche, who is replacing Daniel Elena. In Monte Carlo, he will come face to face again with his rival, compatriot and eight-time Champ Sebastien Ogier, who holds the record for victories at their home round (8). What a great challenge for the M-Sport´s pair!
Along with Sebastien Loeb, his teammates Adrien Fourmaux, Craig Breen and Gus Greensmith will complete the ambitious M-Sport line-up for Monte Carlo. Incidentally, today we have also known about Fourmaux renewal for 2022 with the team of Malcolm Wilson.
First race since Turkey 2020
The Monte Carlo Rally, however, will be Loeb’s first World Championship event since the Rally Turkey 2020. Back then he finished third as part of a part-time program with the South Korean team.
Sébastien Loeb impressed with the Ford Puma
“It’s nice to work with M-Sport, it is a very professional team and one that knows how to build good cars. I am happy to work with M-Sport now, since the beginning of my career I was fighting against Ford but I have always known Malcolm (Wilson) to be somebody very involved in the team and passionate about rally, we have always had a good relationship. I am really excited for Monte Carlo, it is really an exciting challenge”, Sébastien Loeb said.
“It was a pleasure to discover the new technology found in the Puma Rally1 cars, I think it is quite similar to the 2017 cars but with a hybrid system added on it. It makes it a bit more challenging to use and it is exciting to have something new to manage in the car. When I tested the car I was really impressed by how well balanced it is and how powerful it is with the hybrid, I really enjoyed it”.
“I like what I do, I always enjoying driving, but when I do a WRC event it is just an amazing feeling. It is something I enjoy a lot, I think I can still be competitive, ok Monte-Carlo is maybe not the easiest event to start with a team as there can be some tricky conditions. I have some good memories from this rally and it is always an incredible atmosphere around the rally”, Sébastien Loeb finished.
Images of Sebastien Loeb: M-Sport.
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