Daniel Elena – AUSmotive.com

Sebastien Loeb to make one-off Monte comeback

Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena will be making a one-off return to the WRC by taking part in the 2015 Rallye Monte Carlo.

Under the guise of promotion for CitroÃ«n’s DS brand the seven-time winners of the event have been nominated, along with Kris Meeke, to score championship points for CitroÃ«n’s WRC manufacturer’s title campaign.

“I didnâ€™t hesitate for a second when I was offered the chance to compete at the opening round of the 2015 World Rally Championship in the DS 3 WRC,” said Loeb. “I think Daniel and I would agree that Monte-Carlo is one of our favourite events. The beautiful roads, the fact of having to gamble when it comes to tyre choice and the party atmosphere that you get on the stages: we canâ€™t wait to experience it all again!

“Obviously, itâ€™s going to be a personal challenge for me, as I havenâ€™t competed in a rally for over a year. A few days from now, Iâ€™m going to take part in the Rallye du Var and that will give me the chance to reacquaint myself with the car. We have also managed to find a few available slots in my schedule so I can take part in testing. Iâ€™m absolutely delighted about this opportunity to meet up with the big rallying family during the FIA WTCC off-season!”

Loeb and Elena last competed in Rallye Monte-Carlo in 2013. It was the start of their WRC swansong and they won the event for the seventh time.

Sebastien Loeb – World Rally Champion again in 2010!

A quick shout out to Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena who won their seventh consecutive World Rally Championship by claiming an outright win in the Rally of France on the weekend. It marks an amazing run of successes, which includes most titles, most successive titles, most wins, most wins in one season, most successive wins in one season, most consecutive wins on one event. That boy Loeb can drive!

For added emotion Loeb the event took in the town of Haguenau where Loeb was raised. Thousands of well-wishers surrounded the nearby liaison stages ensuring Loeb knew his success was being appreciated, “There were people everywhere on the road, and at the stage. It was rather moving,” he said.

There are still two rallies left on the 2010 calendar, but already the CitroÃ«n Racing team has given the all-conquering C4 WRC a fitting send off. Its replacement, the DS3 WRC, also made its public debut over the weekend at the latest world motor show, which is being held in Paris â€“ where else!