Sébastien Loeb

1.1. Childhood and Background

Sébastien Loeb was born in Haguenau, Alsace, France, and grew up in Oberhoffen-sur-Moder. He was the only child of Guy and Ingrid Loeb, who passed away in 2005 and 2012, respectively. From the age of three, Loeb pursued gymnastics, following in his father's footsteps as a gymnastics champion. His dedication led him to become a four-time Alsatian champion and a one-time champion of the French Grand East, achieving a fifth-place finish in the French national championship. He later stated he gave up gymnastics because his peak age did not align with the Olympic Games cycle. Even today, he sometimes performs backflips to celebrate championships.

After leaving school in 1992, he resumed vocational training in electrical engineering in 1994. Concurrently, from 12 September 1994, he worked as an electrician at Socalec near Haguenau Airport. During this time, he was noted for his daring driving style, a trait his speed-enthusiast boss, who owned a Ferrari Testarossa, understood well.

1.2. Early Rallying Career

In 1995, at the age of 21, Loeb decided to fully commit to racing, leaving his job and studies. His natural talent was first tested at the "Rallye Jeunes," an annual selection event for young rally drivers organized by the French Federation of Automobile Sport. Although he set the best time, he was not initially selected. However, Ambition Sport Auto, a local team, recognized his potential.

Loeb quickly connected with Daniel Elena around this time, who would become his long-time co-driver. In 1997, he achieved excellent results driving a Peugeot in regional rallies (1,300 cc and 1,600 cc classes). He then entered the French Citroën Saxo Trophy series in 1998, winning the title in 1999. His performance caught the eye of Guy Fréquelin, the team principal of Citroën Sport, who became Loeb's mentor.

In 2001, Loeb participated in the Junior World Rally Championship (then known as the Super 1600 Cup), becoming the series' first champion by winning five of the six events. His only non-victory that year was at Rallye Sanremo, where he made his World Rally Championship (WRC) debut as a guest driver for Citroën. Driving a Citroën Xsara WRC, in only his third rally with a World Rally Car, he impressively challenged Peugeot's tarmac specialist Gilles Panizzi, finishing second, just 11.4 s behind the eventual victor.

2.1. Citroën Dominance (2002-2012)

Loeb's full-time WRC journey began in 2002, leading to an extraordinary run of nine consecutive world titles.

2002-2003: Early Success and Near Misses
The 2002 season marked Loeb's official debut as a WRC driver with the Citroën Total World Rally Team, although the team initially participated in a limited number of rounds. He provisionally won the Monte Carlo Rally but was later demoted to second place due to a two-minute time penalty for an illegal tire change. Despite this, he secured his maiden WRC victory at the Rallye Deutschland in Germany, outperforming Peugeot's Richard Burns.

In 2003, his first full season, Loeb won three WRC events: Monte Carlo, Germany, and Sanremo. He was a strong contender for his first world title but ultimately lost to Petter Solberg by a mere one point at the Wales Rally Great Britain. This outcome was partly due to team orders to prioritize Citroën's lead in the manufacturers' championship over his individual pursuit. During this season, Loeb's reputation grew as he consistently outperformed his more experienced teammates, Carlos Sainz Sr. and Colin McRae.

2004-2005: First Titles and Record-Breaking Achievements
The 2004 season saw Loeb dominate the WRC, winning six events and securing six runner-up spots. This performance earned him his first drivers' title, finishing 36 points ahead of Solberg. His six victories tied the single-season record previously held by Didier Auriol. This year also marked Citroën's second consecutive manufacturers' title. Originally considered a tarmac specialist, Loeb demonstrated his versatility by winning on snow at the Swedish Rally (becoming the first non-Nordic driver to do so) and on gravel at the Cyprus Rally, Rally of Turkey, and Rally Australia.

In 2005, Loeb continued his dominance. With his victory in Argentina, he became the first driver to win six consecutive rallies, surpassing Timo Salonen's 1985 record of four. He also became the first to win seven rallies in a season, breaking his and Auriol's record. Following a fatal accident involving Markko Märtin's co-driver Michael Park at the Wales Rally Great Britain, Loeb deliberately incurred a two-minute penalty to avoid winning the title under tragic circumstances, dropping to third. He then secured the title at the next rally in Japan, finishing second to Marcus Grönholm. Loeb ultimately extended his win record to ten and clinched the title with a 56 points margin, surpassing Walter Röhrl's 1980 record. He set further records by winning all twelve stages of the 2005 Tour de Corse (the first time a driver achieved a clean sweep in a WRC rally) and by achieving twelve consecutive podium finishes and thirteen consecutive points-scoring finishes.

2006: Challenging Year and Injury
At the end of 2005, Citroën's parent company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, withdrew from the WRC. Citroën planned to return in 2007 with the C4 WRC, and Loeb was guaranteed a leading role in the new team. In 2006, he competed with Kronos Racing, a privateer team sponsored by Citroën. He started the season with second-place finishes at the 2006 Monte Carlo Rally and 2006 Swedish Rally, both behind Grönholm. However, he then went on to win five consecutive rallies, starting with the 2006 Rally Mexico, which propelled him into a championship lead he never relinquished. He tied Carlos Sainz Sr.'s record of 26 individual rally victories in Germany and then broke it with his 27th win at the 2006 Rally Japan. His victory in Cyprus put him on the brink of his third consecutive world title.

Shortly after, Loeb broke his right humerus in a mountain-biking accident near his home in Switzerland, forcing him to miss the final four rallies of the season. Despite this, he had accumulated such a significant points lead that Grönholm's failure to finish third or better in Australia handed Loeb the 2006 championship crown by one point. He received the news at home via an internet video link, describing the experience as "strange." Loeb later revealed that he even considered co-driving for Colin McRae for the rest of the season to secure points if needed.

2007-2008: C4 Era and Further Records
For 2007, Loeb returned as an official Citroën driver, piloting the new Citroën C4 WRC. He won the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally and finished second in Sweden, taking a two-point lead over Grönholm. He went off track in Rally Norway, losing significant time, but rebounded with victories in Mexico, Portugal, and Argentina. Errors in Sardinia and Japan led to retirements. A very close battle with Grönholm at the 2007 Rally New Zealand ended with Loeb finishing just 0.3 s behind, marking the second closest win in WRC history. He then won both tarmac events, Rallye Espana and Rally France. After Grönholm's retirement in Ireland, Loeb took the win, moving ahead in the championship. He secured his fourth consecutive world title in Wales.

The 2008 season began with a record fifth win for Loeb at the Monte Carlo Rally. Despite crashing out in Sweden, he went on to win in Mexico, Argentina, Italy, and Greece. A crash with Conrad Rautenbach in Jordan limited him to tenth place. He notably won the 2008 Rally Finland, becoming only the fourth non-Nordic driver to win the event. This victory initiated a streak of five wins, including double wins for Citroën with teammate Dani Sordo in Germany, New Zealand, and Spain. Going into the penultimate round, the 2008 Rally Japan, Loeb secured his record fifth consecutive world title, surpassing the four-title records of Juha Kankkunen and Tommi Mäkinen. He concluded the season by winning the 2008 Wales Rally GB, which also clinched Citroën's manufacturers' title.

2009-2010: Intense Battles and Continued Dominance
Loeb started the 2009 season with victories at Rally Ireland and his first-ever win at Rally Norway after a fierce battle with Mikko Hirvonen. He secured his 50th career victory at the 2009 Cyprus Rally and continued his winning streak in Portugal and Argentina, making it five consecutive wins from the start of the season. In Sardinia, a puncture and a time penalty (due to co-driver Elena unfastening his safety belts prematurely) dropped him to fourth. He crashed out of the 2009 Acropolis Rally and had another crash in Rally Poland, leading him to lose the championship lead to Hirvonen by one point. However, he won the 2009 Rally Catalunya, reducing the deficit before the final event. He then secured his sixth consecutive world title by winning the 2009 Rally GB, partly due to a dominant performance in SS8 and SS9 that extended his lead.

The 2010 season saw Loeb finish second at the Swedish Rally but then take a clear championship lead by winning the next three gravel events: Mexico, Jordan, and Turkey. He finished third in New Zealand and narrowly lost to his countryman Sébastien Ogier (Citroën Junior Team) in Portugal. Loeb won the 2010 Rally Bulgaria, where Citroën achieved the WRC's first 1-2-3-4 finish in seventeen years. He then finished third in Rally Finland and won the 2010 Rallye Deutschland for the eighth consecutive time, setting a record for the most wins in a single WRC event. After a fifth-place finish in Japan, Loeb secured a record-extending seventh consecutive world title by winning his home event, the 2010 Rallye de France, held in his hometown of Haguenau. He was on the podium in all but one event that season and finished with a record 105 points lead over runner-up Jari-Matti Latvala. This year remains the "most dominant season" in WRC history, with Loeb winning 84.92 % of theoretical maximum points.

2011: New Cars and Team Tensions
The 2011 season introduced a new generation of World Rally Cars, with Loeb driving the Citroën DS3 WRC. He started by finishing sixth in Rally Sweden. He then won in Mexico for the fifth time in a row after teammate Sébastien Ogier crashed. Loeb finished second to Ogier in Portugal and secured his first Power Stage win. He placed third in the 2011 Jordan Rally, which saw the closest finish in WRC history, and then won the 2011 Rally d'Italia Sardegna.

In Argentina, Loeb won after a tight three-way battle, taking the lead from Ogier on the final stage. He finished second to Ogier in the 2011 Acropolis Rally. In the high-speed 2011 Rally Finland, he became the first non-Nordic driver to win the event twice. In August, Loeb signed a two-year contract extension with Citroën. Tensions grew within the team at the 2011 Rallye Deutschland when Citroën decided to freeze positions, but Loeb later suffered a puncture and finished behind Ogier, ending his winning streak in Germany and marking his first tarmac loss since the 2006 Monte Carlo Rally.

Loeb held a 25 points lead over Ogier before 2011 Rally Australia, where both drivers crashed out, but Loeb recovered to tenth after team orders. In his home event, 2011 Rallye de France, an engine failure forced him to retire. This left him tied for the championship lead with Mikko Hirvonen. At the 2011 Rally Catalunya, Loeb secured his fifth win of the season and broke Markku Alén's record for most stage wins in the world championship (801). He carried an eight-point lead into the season-ending 2011 Wales Rally GB. Loeb clinched his eighth consecutive world championship after Hirvonen retired due to engine problems. While running second, Loeb himself retired from the rally due to a collision on a road section with a spectator's car. This title moved him ahead of Michael Schumacher in terms of major motorsport championships won.

2012: The Ninth Title and Full-Time Retirement
Loeb began the 2012 season with a record sixth win at the Monte Carlo Rally. After hitting a snowbank in Sweden, he finished sixth but secured extra points by winning the Power Stage. He took his second victory of the season at the 2012 Rally Mexico. Despite crashing out of the 2012 Rally de Portugal, he went on to dominate the 2012 Rally Argentina, securing his 70th WRC victory. He also won the 2012 Acropolis Rally after rivals faced problems.

Loeb continued his winning streak in New Zealand and Finland, where he took his third win in the event. This marked the fourth consecutive double win for the Citroën team. After beating Latvala to victory in Germany, Loeb finished second to him at the 2012 Wales Rally GB.

In late September, Loeb announced his retirement from full-time rallying, stating he would compete in only selected events in 2013 to pursue new challenges like the World Touring Car Championship. At his home event, the 2012 Rallye de France, Loeb built a lead over Latvala and title rival Hirvonen, then maintained it on wet roads to secure a record ninth drivers' title in the World Rally Championship, also aiding Citroën to its eighth manufacturers' title. German magazine Auto Bild hailed him as "the best rally driver of all time and a shining light in motorsport," while former world champion Ari Vatanen suggested Loeb's records were unlikely to be broken.

2.2. Partial Participation and Post-Citroën Era (2013, 2015, 2018-2020)

After his full-time WRC retirement in 2012, Loeb continued to make sporadic appearances, transitioning between teams.

2013: Farewell Appearances
In 2013, Loeb participated in five rallies: Monte Carlo, Sweden, Argentina, Germany, and France. He started his partial WRC season with a dominant win in Monte Carlo and secured another victory in Argentina. He finished second to Sébastien Ogier in Sweden. His home rally in France was widely speculated to be his WRC swansong. During the event, Loeb crashed out on the first stage of day three, ending his final WRC appearance before the last stages in his hometown of Haguenau. After the rally, a ceremony was held to honor his legendary career. On 1 October 2013, it was confirmed that Loeb would continue with Citroën, transitioning to the World Touring Car Championship.

2015: Brief Return with Citroën
After a year's absence from the WRC in 2014, Loeb returned for the 2015 Monte Carlo Rally with Citroën. He held a strong position early in the rally but crashed on Day 2, damaging his left rear suspension. Although he completed the stage, he could not return to service within the regulation time and incurred a time penalty, dropping significantly in the standings. He rejoined the rally under Rally2 rules on Day 3 and ultimately finished 8th. He did not contest any WRC rounds in 2016 or 2017.

2018-2020: Hyundai Stint and Final Citroën Win

Loeb competed in three rounds of the 2018 season. He secured his final WRC victory with Citroën at the 2018 Rally Catalunya, his first win since 2013. This victory, achieved after six years away from full-time participation, saw him outmaneuver former rival Sébastien Ogier.

Following Citroën's sponsor withdrawal, Loeb signed a part-time contract with the Hyundai World Rally Team for the 2019 season, ending his 17-year association with PSA. He participated in six rounds, achieving one podium finish at the 2019 Rally Chile. Later that year, he won the non-championship Rallye du Var with his partner, Laurène Godey, as co-driver.

In 2020, he continued with Hyundai for two rounds, finishing 6th at the Monte Carlo Rally and securing a podium at Rally Turkey. On 1 October 2020, he announced his departure from Hyundai Motorsport and did not participate in the WRC in 2021.

2.3. M-Sport Ford and Recent Appearances (2022-Present)

After his departure from Hyundai and a year out of the WRC, Loeb made a sensational return, joining forces with M-Sport Ford.


2021: New Co-driver and Manufacturer Shift
On 29 November 2021, Loeb's long-time co-driver, Daniel Elena, announced his retirement. Loeb then tested the Ford Puma Rally1 car for M-Sport Ford World Rally Team several times. On 21 December 2021, M-Sport announced that Loeb would compete for them part-time in the 2022 WRC season with a new co-driver, French mathematics teacher Isabelle Galmiche.

2022: Historic 80th Win and Challenges
Loeb's return at the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally with Isabelle Galmiche for M-Sport Ford WRT was remarkable, given he had barely recovered from the 2022 Dakar Rally and had limited time in the new-generation WRC car since 2018. He engaged in an intense battle with former rival Sébastien Ogier throughout the rally. Ogier suffered a puncture in the penultimate stage, and a 10-second penalty for a jumpstart in the final stage sealed Loeb's victory. Loeb secured his 80th WRC rally win by 10.5 s over Ogier, marking his first WRC victory for a manufacturer other than Citroën and his first with a co-driver other than Daniel Elena. He also became the oldest driver to lead and win a WRC rally at 47 years and 331 days. Galmiche, in turn, became the first female co-driver to win a WRC event since Fabrizia Pons in 1997.

Loeb and Galmiche then competed at the 2022 Rally de Portugal. They briefly held the overall lead after winning SS4 but crashed into a barrier in SS5, destroying their rear-right suspension and forcing their retirement for the day. Another mechanical issue led to their final retirement on Saturday. Their next appearance was at the 2022 Safari Rally, Loeb's first participation there since 2002. Despite good speed and winning a stage on Friday, a small engine fire forced their retirement. They managed to win two more stages on Sunday and finished 8th. At the 2022 Acropolis Rally, Loeb led after Friday, trading stage wins with teammate Pierre-Louis Loubet, but mechanical issues forced another retirement.

2023-Present: Continuing Rally and Further Wins
In 2023, Loeb, alongside his partner and co-driver Laurène Godey, won the Azores Rallye on their first attempt, driving a Škoda Fabia R5. He also won the Rallye Charlemagne in the French rally championship, marking his return to the event after 26 years. In June 2024, Loeb participated in the French Lan Trophy event with Laurène Godey, winning overall and performing donut turns for the spectators. In September, he won the Rallye Mont Blanc in the French rally championship, driving an Alpine A110 RGT+ and outperforming several Rally2 machines.

3.1. Dakar Rally and Rally-Raid

Sébastien Loeb's venture into rally-raid, particularly the demanding Dakar Rally, has been a significant chapter in his career, marked by impressive stage wins and podium finishes.

2016-2019: Peugeot Era
Loeb made his debut at the 2016 Dakar Rally with Peugeot, driving the Peugeot 2008 DKR. He led the rally by 7 min 48 s but lost the lead to teammate Stéphane Peterhansel on Stage 6. He finished 9th overall, winning four stages.

In 2017, driving the Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi, Loeb achieved his best Dakar finish to date, placing 2nd overall, just 5 min behind Peterhansel, and winning five stages. However, he had to abandon the Silk Way Rally in July 2017 due to a finger injury while leading the overall standings.

The 2018 Dakar Rally saw Loeb retire on Day 5 due to a tailbone injury sustained by his co-driver, Daniel Elena, after an incident in the dunes. He had won one stage prior to his retirement.

For the 2019 Dakar Rally, following Peugeot's withdrawal from factory involvement, Loeb and Elena competed with a private Red Bull-backed Peugeot 3008 DKR. They finished 3rd overall, securing four stage wins, 1 h 54 min behind the winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah.

2020-Present: Bahrain Raid Xtreme and W2RC
Loeb did not compete in the 2020 Dakar Rally. In December of that year, he announced his return for the 2021 Dakar Rally with the Prodrive-run Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) team. His debut with BRX in 2021 was challenging; he received a 5-minute speeding penalty, then retired on Stage 8 after suffering two punctures and being stranded for five hours. He also experienced navigation issues with Daniel Elena, leading to their decision to split later in 2021.

In 2022, Loeb entered the inaugural 2022 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) with new Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin, driving the BRX Hunter. They finished 2nd at the 2022 Dakar Rally, 27 min 48 s behind Al-Attiyah, despite numerous mechanical issues and punctures. At the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, they finished 6th overall after a driveshaft failure and two punctures, but still earned crucial points to lead the W2RC standings by one point. In the Rallye du Maroc, a mechanical issue forced them to drop in standings, but they secured two stage wins. Loeb earned his first victory in the rally-raid discipline at the Andalucia Rally, finishing second in the overall W2RC championship with 149 points, 20 points behind Al-Attiyah.

Loeb continued in the 2023 W2RC season with an upgraded BRX Hunter. He finished 2nd at the 2023 Dakar Rally for the third time, despite significant time losses early on due to punctures, a tradrod breakage, and a minor crash. He set a Dakar Rally record by winning seven stages, including six consecutive victories from Stage 8 to 13. However, overheating problems at the start of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and a crash at the Sonora Rally in Mexico severely impacted his title contention. In July 2023, it was announced that Loeb would drive for the Dacia factory team, operated by Prodrive, starting in 2025, confirming his continued involvement with French manufacturers.

At the 2024 Dakar Rally, Loeb secured five stage wins but ultimately finished 3rd overall, continuing his streak of podium finishes but still seeking his maiden Dakar victory. In October 2024, he competed in the Rallye du Maroc as part of Dacia's debut, finishing 2nd overall, contributing to a 1-2 finish for Dacia with teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah.

3.2. Circuit Racing

Sébastien Loeb's adaptability extends to various forms of circuit racing, where he has achieved notable results.

3.3. Rallycross

Sébastien Loeb has also competed in rallycross, a hybrid form of circuit and rally racing, with considerable success.

4.1. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

In April 2013, Loeb tested a specialized Peugeot 208 T16 at Mont Ventoux. This lightweight, 1929 lb ^{(875 kg)} (1.93 K lb ^{(1.93 K lb)}) vehicle, loosely based on the production 208, featured a 3.2-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine generating 875 bhp (652 kW) and used the rear wing from the Peugeot 908. The car was specifically designed to compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Loeb dominated the event, winning with a record-setting time of 8 min 13.878 s, smashing the previous record by a remarkable minute and a half. This achievement showcased his versatility and speed in a highly specialized discipline. His record was later broken by nearly 15 s by Romain Dumas, driving the Volkswagen I.D. R in 2018.

4.2. Race of Champions

Loeb is a multiple winner at the Race of Champions (RoC), an annual motorsport event that pits champions from various disciplines against each other.

• 2003:** He earned the "Champion of Champions" title by defeating Marcus Grönholm in the final.
• 2004:** Loeb and Jean Alesi won the Nations' Cup for France. However, Loeb was defeated by Heikki Kovalainen in the Individuals' Final and by Michael Schumacher in a special "World Champions Challenge."
• 2005:** He claimed his second "Champion of Champions" title, beating Tom Kristensen.
• 2008:** Loeb won his third individual RoC title, becoming only the second driver after fellow Frenchman Didier Auriol to win the event more than twice.
• 2010:** Representing Team France with Alain Prost, Loeb reached the individual final for the seventh time but lost to Filipe Albuquerque.
• 2022:** In the first-ever RoC held on snow and ice in Sweden, Loeb defeated four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel 3-1 in the final, securing his fourth "Champion of Champions" title and tying Didier Auriol's record. This also marked his eighth final appearance.

4.3. X Games

In July 2012, Loeb debuted at the X Games in Los Angeles (X Games XVIII), competing in the rallycross discipline. He faced his old rival Marcus Grönholm, who was hospitalized after an accident in practice. Loeb went on to dominate the rallycross final, winning the gold medal well ahead of Ken Block, who suffered a puncture.

7.1. Family and Relationships

Loeb was born and raised in Haguenau, Alsace, France. His parents were Guy and Ingrid Loeb, who passed away in 2005 and 2012, respectively.

He married Séverine Meny, who often managed the "Loeb Events" hospitality area during rallies and sometimes served as his co-driver in non-championship races. The couple has a daughter. Reports indicate that Loeb and Meny separated in 2019.

Currently, Loeb's partner is Laurène Godey. She has also served as his co-driver in various rallies, including the Rallye du Var in 2019, the Azores Rallye in 2023, and the Lan Trophy in 2024. Godey is frequently seen accompanying Loeb at motorsport events. Loeb resides near Lausanne, Switzerland, with Godey and his daughter.

7.2. Honors and Public Recognition

For his significant contributions to French sport, Sébastien Loeb was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur on 27 May 2009, by French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

He was named the French Sportsman of the Year in both 2007 and 2009, sharing the latter honor with his long-time co-driver, Daniel Elena. Loeb is also a member of the "Champions for Peace" club, an initiative by Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organization, where 54 elite athletes commit to promoting peace globally through sport.