Sébastien Loeb confirms switch to World Rallycross for 2016
After two years in the World Touring Car Championship, nine-time World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb has confirmed his switch to the World Rallycross Championship for 2016 with Team Peugeot Hansen.
Loeb will partner Timmy Hansen in a two car programme in the Supercar class, alongside his commitment to Peugeot in the Cross Country Rally World Cup.
“I’m very excited by this opportunity to participate in the full Rallycross Championship for the first time,” said Loeb. “Over the years I have been fortunate to participate in some truly amazing racing, but rallycross – with the sheer power and the competiveness of the Peugeot 208 WRX, plus the intense nature of the competition – will be something very special. The car and the strategy for this type of racing is completely new to me, so I have a lot to learn, but I hope I can be competitive pretty soon.”
Loeb’s previous experience in Rallycross includes winning the rallycross gold in the 2012 X-Games in a specially prepared Citroen DS3, and also took part at the French round of the World Rallycross Championship at Loheac in 2013.
“Last season we proved that we had the potential to perform in the series with Timmy Hansen and Davy Jeanney,” said team principal Kenneth Hansen. “By adding Sebastien Loeb to the equation, we will be even stronger. Rallycross is one of the hardest disciplines to dominate, with no room for mistakes. Loeb has incredible capacity to adapt and I have no doubt that he will be a strong challenger.”
