Loeb to quit end of 2008?

[MJW]

Over on a rallyforum here in UK there is a thread about a rumour that Loeb will quit wrc end of 2008 and go to become a professional race driver.
I guess with (if he wins) 5 drivers titles, now having won in Finland what is left in the wrc to motivate Seb? Also whilst far from confirmed the Citroen DTM entry is almost impossible to be ready for 2009 so does that leave Peugeot with their Le Mans 908's?
Will Gronholm come back for one more attempt with Citroen?

[Sulland]

Loeb should do a Rossi.

Valentino Rossi changed bike when him and the machine was an unbeatable combination.
For him to feel that it still was a challenge, he started to build the Yamaha into a winner.

Maybe Loeb should do the same ?

Loeb in a Suzuki maybe ???

[Corny]

for sure I'll respect him more if he'd go to Subaru!

[Sulland]

for sure I'll respect him more if he'd go to Subaru!

Maybe a Seb-Petter swap ?

Would be fun !!

[Tomi]

Will Gronholm come back for one more attempt with Citroen?

Hopefully not.

If Loeb stop with rally it sure would be a big loss for the sport, on the other hand, it has to be difficult for him to find the motivation.
Loeb to drive for subaru, lol why would a guy who has been working with top professionals want to take a few steps back to the sandbox level.

[AndyRAC]

Well it doesn't say much for the WRC that there is the possibility of him leaving the WRC. If he wants a challenge, he obviously feels that the WRC isn't the place. Must admit I'd love to see him in the Le Mans series - which seems a competitive series.
I get the feeling that people still think the WRC is in fairly good health, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Anyway, the Loeb story is just internet fuelled rumours - for now.

[Donney]

He could try IRC and see what he gets from it, but in that case I guess he'll go to Peugeot which is more or less the best car out there anyway....

I don't know it'd be a shame to see him go but I understand it is hard for him to find the motivation.

[shaitan]

I would like to see he drive a GT car or the perfect way is a F1 car.

[Mihai]

I'd love to see Loeb in the DTM along with the entire Citroen Sport team.

Former WRC champion Walter Rohrl drove a couple of seasons in the DTM with Audi and he won a few races.

[ShiftingGears]

Loeb has the talent to go anywhere in motorsport, so as an F1 fan I hope he can make it there.

[kakus]

This is not true.

Loeb said today in french magazine LEQUIPE :

«Je ne me vois pas arrêter le rallye. Mais j'aimerais faire quelque chose à côté du WRC, courir un autre Championnat en parallèle, en circuit.» DTM ? WTCC ? Rallye-raid ? Endurance ? Cette dernière piste reste celle privilégiée par Loeb.

He want to stay in the rallye but he want to do another race in the same time.

Sorry for my english but the link in French :

http://www.lequipe.fr/Formule1/breves2008/20080918_081847_loeb-veut-faire-du-circuit_Dev.html

[N.O.T]

I doubt anyone who has such a success in a motorsport quits to do something else....are there any examples in the past ??

Loeb will stay in WRC and probably will do some selected events on tracks

[Allyc85]

I hope Loeb stays in the WRC, but its about time he drive for someone else to show how good he really is.

[rx-guru]

Kenneth Hansen is going to build a second C4 for the 2009 ERC…

Apropos, RX is circuit racing. ;)

[Daniel]

I hope Loeb does Le Mans in the 908. Would be good if he raced in an international GT series :)

[cut the b.s.]

I hope Loeb stays in the WRC, but its about time he drive for someone else to show how good he really is.

How do you rate Tomi Makinen? 4 titles with 1 manufacturer, like Loeb in a car that didn't do that much for anyone else? Do you rate him and Loeb lower than KKK, 4 titles with 3 makers, sure he was there from the start of the GpA Delta era but the 205 T16 and the Celica were well sorted cars when he went to those teams.

Loeb has shown how good he is, he could be champ in a Focus and no rally driver that has ever been could be champ in the current Subaru or Suzuki, the statement you make is said quite often on here and it is utter nonsense. His record of wins and success against team mates says all needs said.

[Daniel]

How do you rate Tomi Makinen? 4 titles with 1 manufacturer, like Loeb in a car that didn't do that much for anyone else? Do you rate him and Loeb lower than KKK, 4 titles with 3 makers, sure he was there from the start of the GpA Delta era but the 205 T16 and the Celica were well sorted cars when he went to those teams.

Loeb has shown how good he is, he could be champ in a Focus and no rally driver that has ever been could be champ in the current Subaru or Suzuki, the statement you make is said quite often on here and it is utter nonsense. His record of wins and success against team mates says all needs said.
Bah! Loeb should have been around back in the Escort and Mk1+2 Escort days when REAL men drove rallycars :p

Is what the idiots would all say :)

[Fri]

He can drive a Torro Rosso car in F1

[cut the b.s.]

Bah! Loeb should have been around back in the Escort and Mk1+2 Escort days when REAL men drove rallycars :p

Is what the idiots would all say :)

If he unzipped his overalls and wore a gold medallion do you think it would help?

[Tom206wrc]

I hope Loeb does Le Mans in the 908. Would be good if he raced in an international GT series :)



Would be great :D

But not quite possible if he keeps Sony Playstation as sponsor(or if Peugeot keeps Microsoft XBox)... :mark:

[Daniel]

I suspect this is the smallest obstacle to him becoming a GT driver......

[MrJan]

How do you rate Tomi Makinen? 4 titles with 1 manufacturer, like Loeb in a car that didn't do that much for anyone else? Do you rate him and Loeb lower than KKK, 4 titles with 3 makers, sure he was there from the start of the GpA Delta era but the 205 T16 and the Celica were well sorted cars when he went to those teams.

Loeb has shown how good he is, he could be champ in a Focus and no rally driver that has ever been could be champ in the current Subaru or Suzuki, the statement you make is said quite often on here and it is utter nonsense. His record of wins and success against team mates says all needs said.

We all knew that Valentino Rossi was something special in Moto GP but he showed that he was a legend when he moved to Yamaha and still won on what was considered a rubbish bike.

Loeb is already a legend because he is just so good but he would really add to his status if he was competitive in a lesser car.

And records against team mates don't say that much because firstly the car was pretty much built around him and, with the exception of the Sainz/McRae year, his team mates really haven't been that good.

[Lousada]

We all knew that Valentino Rossi was something special in Moto GP but he showed that he was a legend when he moved to Yamaha and still won on what was considered a rubbish bike.


The difference being that Yamaha made every effort to become number one. Can't say the same about Subaru or Suzuki.
Plus it would do a lot more for his status if he wins in LMS and/or DTM then winning 6000 titles in 30 different cars against the likes of Matt Wilson, Rautenbach, Villagra, Al Quassimi, Van Merksteijn, Tirabassi, etc.

[Simmi]

It shouldn't be this way but I think an eventual parting of ways of Loeb and the WRC could be mutually beneficial for both parties.

Loeb gets to walk out with a massive wins record that I doubt will be beaten, plus the probable five consecutive titles, which again will probably not be bettered. He gets to go off and compete in some circuit stuff which is arguably safer, (he has a child now) and also would mean less time away from home.

The WRC becomes less predictable and more competitive, but the only downside is a Loeb exit will probably coincide with Citroen moving on.

[MrJan]

The difference being that Yamaha made every effort to become number one. Can't say the same about Subaru or Suzuki.
Plus it would do a lot more for his status if he wins in LMS and/or DTM then winning 6000 titles in 30 different cars against the likes of Matt Wilson, Rautenbach, Villagra, Al Quassimi, Van Merksteijn, Tirabassi, etc.

That is probably true :up: However Loeb still has age on his side, especially if he makes a move to LMS, and I think that he should give the WRC a few more years in something a bit different before making the jump.

Also Yamaha barely made the effort until they had Rossi, his crew and his money on board, something which might happen with Loeb moving teams.

I honestly don't think that it will happen but I'd just like to see how he'd get on in something a bit rubbish.

[Larry_Japan]

Loeb will definitely contest WRC in 2009 in Ciroen C4.

[GigiGalliNo1]

http://wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=2645&desc=Loeb%20rules%20out%20Monte%20Carlo%20appearan ce%20in%202009

[RS]

http://wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=2645&desc=Loeb%20rules%20out%20Monte%20Carlo%20appearan ce%20in%202009

That's a real shame, but I am sure the people at ISC took some pleasure in writing this article :D

[Daniel]

pity he couldn't drive a 207 as he would have won. Even in an s1600 i think he would have done well.

[AndyRAC]

That's a real shame, but I am sure the people at ISC took some pleasure in writing this article :D

Which isn't clever. Cheap point scoring against each other is only harming the sport. The WRC isn't strong enough to let the 'classic' events be dropped in favour of less well known events.

[Helstar]

pity he couldn't drive a 207 as he would have won
You can't know it...

Also, I think if he quits WRC then Mikko could beat his records, so ... no way he's thinking to go somewhere else IMHO ! (and of course, he's not SURELY going to pwn everybody like in WRC, so why change ?!).

[RS]

Which isn't clever. Cheap point scoring against each other is only harming the sport. The WRC isn't strong enough to let the 'classic' events be dropped in favour of less well known events.

I agree. Next year IRC could well have Monte Carlo, Safari, San Remo and maybe an "RAC" Rally too. Not sure what's in WRC next year, anyone got a handy link to the 2009 calendar?

[Simmi]

You can't know it...

Also, I think if he quits WRC then Mikko could beat his records, so ... no way he's thinking to go somewhere else IMHO ! (and of course, he's not SURELY going to pwn everybody like in WRC, so why change ?!).

Have you thought that maybe he doesn't like completely owning the rest of the field. He has said himself he enjoyed his battles with Marcus above anything. The reason behind any change for Loeb would be to find a new challenge, which is more admirable then dominating a sub-standard level of competition for four more years.

And I sincerely doubt Mikko would beat any of Loebs records.

[Daniel]

Yeah Sebastien isn't the sort of person who seems like he would love dominating lesser opponents. He's seemed less happy this season without a strong challenger like Marcus

[alleskids]

I agree. Next year IRC could well have Monte Carlo, Safari, San Remo and maybe an "RAC" Rally too. Not sure what's in WRC next year, anyone got a handy link to the 2009 calendar?

I found this one on autposport.com, it could be changed in the mean time

2009 FIA World Rally Championship:

Ireland 01-Feb
Norway 15-Feb
Cyprus 15-Mar
Portugal 05-Apr
Argentina 26-Apr
Italy 24-May
Greece 14-Jun
Poland 28-Jun
Finland 02-Aug
Australia 06-Sep
Spain 04-Oct
GB 25-Oct

2010 FIA World Rally Championship:

Monte Carlo 24-Jan
Sweden 14-Feb
Mexico 07-Mar
Jordan 11-Apr
Turkey 25-Apr
New Zealand 16-May
Indonesia 20-Jun
Russia 18-Jul
Bulgaria 08-Aug
Germany 22-Aug
Japan 12-Sep
France 10-Oct

[MJW]

I found this one on autposport.com, it could be changed in the mean time

2009 FIA World Rally Championship:

2010 FIA World Rally Championship:

Monte Carlo 24-Jan
Sweden 14-Feb
Mexico 07-Mar
Jordan 11-Apr
Turkey 25-Apr
New Zealand 16-May
Indonesia 20-Jun
Russia 18-Jul
Bulgaria 08-Aug
Germany 22-Aug
Japan 12-Sep
France 10-Oct

Autosport published in UK today casts serious doubts over Indonesia and Bulgaria being in WRC 2010 & also possibly Russia. Reserve events tipped to replace Indonesia and Bulgaria are surprise NORF and WRGB.

[Tomi]

Autosport published in UK today casts serious doubts over Indonesia and Bulgaria being in WRC 2010 & also possibly Russia. Reserve events tipped to replace Indonesia and Bulgaria are surprise NORF and WRGB.

big surprise ;)

[DonJippo]

Autosport published in UK today casts serious doubts over Indonesia and Bulgaria being in WRC 2010 & also possibly Russia.

I'm not surprised to see these events under doubts.

[Helstar]

And I sincerely doubt Mikko would beat any of Loebs records.
When you have Loeb out, who is young and n.1 in his team ? It would be 1-Mikko 2-JML hands down in every rally (except tarmac with Sordo on C4).