Sebastien Loeb

Sebastien Loeb (born the February 26th 1974 with Haguenau in the the Low-Rhine) is a pilot of rally French. He lives in Suisse in the Canton of Vaud on the arc lemanic. He takes part for the first time on a world level in 1999. Holder of the record of the number of victories into world with 36 successes, it gained the championship of France and the championship of the world junior Super 1600 (JWRC) in 2001, then the championship of the world WRC in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, with as copilot Daniel Elena, since his first races in rallys.

Sebastien Loeb married the September 10th 2005 with Severine Mény, girl of an important automobile dealer of Toul in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Their daughter, Valentine was born the November 19th 2007 with 17:30 in Suisse, probably in Lausanne or Morges. Sebastien Loeb wanted to make a career of electrician, but all will change thanks to the rallys.

Beginnings in competition

In his youth, Sebastien Loeb was a high level gymnaste: 4 times champion from Alsace and 1 time champion of Large Are, 5th with the Championship of France.

It makes its first beginnings in rally, 1995, while taking part in the operation Rallye Young people and fails twice finally. Noticed by Dominique Heintz and Remi Mammosser, it integrates in 1997 their team Ambition Sport Car . After some successes in regional rallys, it passes quickly to the National Rallys in Stealing 106 and gains the four tests in which it takes part of category 1300 cm ³. At the conclusion of the season he is elected Espoir Exhaust of the Year .

In 1999, it gains the trophy Citroen Saxo Kit Because .

In 2000, it gains the championship of France of rally Ground. Citroen offers Xsara Kit to him Because to dispute the rally of the VAr, which it gains. It is then engaged by Citroen to dispute the championship of France 2001. Within the framework of the team of France, he discovers the piloting of a WRC on board Toyota Corolla (Corsica; San remo)

In 2001, it easily gains the championship of France of Rally asphalts (6 victories) and the championship of the world super junior 1600 (5 victories).

World career in rally

Always in 2001, it is engaged on board a car WRC, with the Rallye Sanremo. It will finish second from the start, on the heels of Gilles Panizzi, that which one calls the ace of asphalt.

In 2002 it carries out many tests at the wheel of the Citroen Xsara WRC to prepare the official engagement of the manufacturer in championship of the world and takes part in some rallys in championship of the world. It dominates the Rallye Monte Carlo but loses the victory over green carpet because of an error of the stable and gains its first victory in WRC with the rally of Germany.

In 2003, for its first complete season in WRC, it carries out the exploit to precede its two fellow-members, Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz, both former world champions, but fails in his fight for the title of a point vis-a-vis the Norwegian Petter Solberg.

In 2004, it gains the championship of the world of the rally S with six victories during the season and precedes Petter Solberg. Ten years after Didier Auriol, he becomes thus the second French titrated with the more high level of the world rally and equalizes in the passing the number of victories in one season of Didier Auriol. He is however the first French with being titrated on a French car, Didier Auriol having been titrated on a Toyota. During this season 2004, it is the nonScandinavian pilot first to gain the rally of Sweden. Moreover, it will give up only twice and always in an unfortunate way, not the least error. Once in Mexico where a stone will damage its sump, and for the same reason in Catalonia.

In 2005, it gains a third victory of sharp with the rally Monte Carlo, then connects 6 victories of row in New Zealand, Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and Argentina, then after a second place in Finland, it triumphs for the fourth time in Germany, becoming thus the only holder of the record of victories in one season (10) and of the victories number of sharp (6). With the rally of Great Britain, following the accident which costs the life Michael Park, copilot of Markko Märtin, and with the withdrawal of the crew Marcus Grönholm/Timo Rautiainen by respect for their fellow-members, Loeb decides to voluntarily take a penalty not to gain the victory and the title in this sad day. It is at the time of the following test, the rally of Japan, that Loeb gains a second consecutive title of world champion. At the time of the rally of France, which had escaped him until there, he is the first pilot of the history of the championship WRC to gain all best times of special of a rally (12 for the Turn of Corsica 2005). He also gains the following test, the rally of Catalonia, carrying his record of victories in one season with 10. To enclose this season, it also gains the “Course of the Champions”.

In 2006, Citroen being withdrawn, short Sebastien, always at the wheel of a Xsara WRC, in the private stable Kronos Racing. In margin of the championship of the world WRC, it also takes part in the development of the C4 WRC, the future weapon of Citroen for its return in 2007. At semi-season, it was at the head championship thanks to 5 victories and 3 second places in front of Marcus Grönholm. Sebastien benefits even from the summer break to sign a second place with the 24 hours of Mans on car 17 of the team Pescarolo Sport, crew also made up of Franck Montagny and Eric Hélary.

By gaining the rally of Japan on September 3rd, 2006 in front of its direct competitor for the championship of the world Marcus Grönholm, it beats the record of the number of victories of Carlos Sainz (27 victories).

A few days after its victory with the rally of Cyprus, it falls at the time of a drive with VTT in Switzerland, in the Canton of Vaud, where it resides, and is fractured the head of the Humérus right, it must then declare fixed price for the last 4 rallys of the season. It is found thus under the threat of Marcus Grönholm which could have come to cap it on the wire. The Finnish pilot will have nevertheless to incline himself after an accident with the rally of Australia which will mark the end of its hopes to finish on more the high step of the podium. Sebastien Loeb is triple world champion WRC. But it will give up taking part in the 24 Hours of Mans 2007 which is more demanding than the rally for its weakened arm.

Beginning 2007, during the traditional promotion of the new year, Sebastien Loeb was named knight of the Légion of honor. The same year, for the first official exit of the news Citroen C4 WRC, it even gains the inaugural test, ensuring doubled for Citroen with its fellow-member Dani Sordo. For the first exit of the new creation of Citroen on ground, to the Rally of Mexico, Loeb the victory will bring to its stable, others will follow. Once again, the season will be summarized with a duel between him and Marcus Grönholm. It finally will gain its fourth consecutive title at the end of the last test of the season, equalizing the record of world titles, and consecutive titles.

It belongs to the rare pilots to have gained victories in championship of the world over all the types of grounds: asphalts, ground and snow. It is famous for the safety of its piloting: since its accession in championship of the world, in 85 participations, it gave up only five times on pilot error (Catalonia 2002, Argentina 2003, Australia 2005, Italy and Japan 2007).

Titles

Victories in Championship of the world of the rallys

Others

External bonds

  • Official site
  • Fan club
  • nonofficial Site
  • Photographs of Loeb after victory in Monte Carlo January 2007

Rérérences

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