Sebastien Loeb

Sebastien Loeb is a French racing and rally driver who is rightfully considered as the best rally driver of all times. From 2004 to 2012, he won nine consecutive titles in World Rally Championship, making himself the most successful driver in the history of this competition. In addition, Loeb holds several records in the WRC – the most wins, the most podium finishes and the highest number of points.

After stepping out from full-time rallying in 2013, he successfully competed in sports car races, touring car races, rallycross, Dakar Rally and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Video - A tribute to the rally legend Sébastien Loeb

From gymnastics to rally

Sebastien Loeb was born in February 1974 in Haguenau, in the province of Alsace. As a boy, Loeb was a gymnast and achieved some considerable results at regional and national competitions. He left school in 1992, but in 1994, Loeb took the classes in electrical engineering.

In parallel, he started working as an electrician at the Socalec company near Haguenau Airport. He was already known for his reckless driving style and luckily, his boss was also a speed lover and an owner of Ferrari, so he had a lot of understanding for Loeb’s racing adventures. Finally, Loeb left his job in 1995 and had completely turned to racing.

Junior WRC champion in 2001

He stepped in the world of racing in 1995. He had competed in the French Citroen Saxo Trophy series in which he became a champion four years later. In 2001, Loeb triumphed in Junior World Rally Championship, winning five of six races, and Citroen Total World Rally Team immediately offered him a contract for the next season, probably making one of the best decisions ever.

"The Junior WRC was a natural choice. It is a championship that supports young drivers and enables them to shine and come to fame," said Loeb once, speaking about his beginnings.

Co-driver Daniel Elena with Sébastien Loeb

WRC runner-up in only second season with big boys

In debut season in WRC, with co-driver Daniel Elena, Loeb managed to achieve his first victory in Germany, while in 2003, his first full season in the competition, he finished as a runner-up with only one point less than the champion Petter Solberg from Norway. Sebastien Loeb scored three rally wins in 2003, defeating his famous team-mates Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae.

Sébastien Loeb celebrates victory at 2002 Monte Carlo rally

Years of glory

Loeb’s absolute domination, especially in rally races on tarmac, started in 2004. When Loeb decided to pull back from the WRC, his account counted nine championship titles (three driving Citroen Xsara, four driving Citroen C4 and two in Citroen DS3), 76 rally wins, 116 places on the podium and 1.619 points scored. Looking from this perspective, these results will hardly be outnumbered in foreseeable future of the WRC.

Sébastien Loeb driving Citroen Xsara

Record-setting six wins in 2004 WRC season

In 2004, Loeb was absolutely superior, winning six events and taking the same number of runner-up spots which was well enough to bring him his first title, leaving second-placed Solberg 36 points behind in the overall standings.

With six WRC wins, Loeb tied the record for victories in one season with fellow Frenchman Didier Auriol who scored the same number back in 1992.

2005 - one more record with six consecutive wins

The next record was made in 2005 when Loeb won six consecutive rallies, beating Timo Salonen’s record from 1985. That year, the Frenchman did something unusual: he had a chance to secure another title during Rally of Wales, but after the last two stages were abandoned due to death of Markko Martin’s co-pilot Michael Park in the accident at stage 15, Loeb deliberately earned a two-minute penalty. He was the leader of the rally, but after penalty dropped to third.

He later explained he didn’t want to clinch the title in such circumstances, so he became a champion after the next event in Japan.

Sébastien Loeb during Rally Finland

2006 - surpassing Carlos Sainz's record number of wins

In 2006, Citroen pulled out of World Rally Championship but was preparing a comeback in 2007, with Loeb as their main star. Still, the French manufacturer supported Kronos Racing team with Loeb as a driver during ’gap year’ in which he won another title, beating Carlos Sainz’s record of 26 career victories.

Interestingly, Loeb had to withdraw from the championship four races before the end of the season after breaking his right humerus in a mountain-biking accident near his home in Switzerland. Regardless, he had such a huge advantage that even after he missed the last four rounds, he defended his title after Marcus Gronholm missed a chance to overtake him in the standings.

Battles with the Finns

The Citroen had returned to the WRC for the 2007 campaign and Loeb was ready to continue his string of success. Driving a new Citroen C4, the season had started well for Loeb and the team, as he won the 75th edition of Monte Carlo Rally. During that season, Loeb had a great rival in Marcus Gronholm. They were close throughout the whole year, but in the end, Loeb was the one who celebrated with a bit of luck, finishing only four points ahead of the Finn.

Sébastien Loeb became Citroen's trademark

Eleven WRC victories in 2008!

The season of 2008 was probably the best in Loeb’s career. He started with a record fifth win in Monte Carlo. Until the end of that year, he had won 10 more rallies and fifth consecutive World Rally Championship title, 19 points ahead of Mikko Hirvonen.

Next year was much more demanding for Loeb as Hirvonen was very close to stealing the crown from the Frenchman. Loeb had a perfect start of the season, winning first five events, but Hirvonen fought back with four wins. The Frenchman finished 7th in Poland and Hirvonen was on the top just two races before the end of the season. However, Loeb won the last two rallies in Spain and Great Britain to retain the title, beating the Finn by only one point.

2010 - twelve podiums in thirteen rallies

Sebastien Loeb broke another record in 2010, scoring a total of 276 points and missing podium finish in only one race. Runner-up Jari-Matti Latvala from Finland was 105 points behind the champion. A new generation of World Rally Cars was announced in 2011. Loeb was ready for that, and driving Citroen DS3 he had won his 8th title. This title moved him ahead of the seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher in terms of major motorsport championships won.

Loeb during WRC Acropolis Rally

Ninth WRC crown in 2012

Finally, in 2012, Loeb had won his ninth WRC crown. The Citroen driver was the fastest in nine of 13 rallies that year. In late September of 2012, Loeb announced his retirement from full-time rallying, stating that he would compete only in selected events during the upcoming season. He had also announced that he will take a new challenge in the World Touring Cars Championship starting from 2014, again as a Citroen driver.

Next station - WTCC

After Citroen decided to switch on to WTCC, their choice to pick Loeb for one of the drivers was logical knowing his success on the tarmac. In his debut season, Loeb achieved two wins and finished third in the overall standings, giving a full contribution to Citroen’s triumph in the 2014 Manufacturers’ Championship.

Loeb has repeated the same result in 2015, finishing third overall and scoring four race wins, but then lost his place in the team as Citroen decided to reduce WTCC entry at only two cars. Loeb stayed present in WTCC with his own team, Sebastien Loeb Racing.

Sebastien Loeb driving Citroen C-Elysee WTCC

Dakar Rally was a new challenge for Loeb

Next step in Loeb’s career was the 2016 Dakar Rally, as he joined the Peugeot Sport team for 2016. That team is already called ‘Dream team’ as Loeb will drive alongside his former team-mate Carlos Sainz and fellow Frenchmen Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres.

Loeb’s debut in the world’s most demanding race was relatively good as he finished 9th, although Sebastien was on the way to winning as he was fastest in five stages but troubles with a Peugeot car prevented him to be a title contender.

“The Dakar is completely different from the racing I did in 2015. It was very long, over two weeks, and you needed to have the endurance to look after the driver and the car. It’s another approach to racing but I am relatively happy after debut” commented Loeb.

Nine-time world rally champion and Peugeot driver Sebastien Loeb with fans at 2016 Dakar rally

Second place at 2017 Dakar Rally, third place in 2019

In the following year, Loeb again was one of the favorites to win the Dakar Rally. As a member of Peugeot's dream team, he did very well in a Peugeot 3008 DKR, led at one point of the race, but at the end he finished second, losing to his teammate and compatriot Stephane Peterhansel.

At 2018 Dakar Rally, Loeb was again among the front-runners as Peugeot factory driber, winning one stage, but he retired after his co-driver Daniel Elena was slightly injured in an accident. In January 2019, Loeb was driving his private Peugeot 3008 DKR at Dakar Rally, finishing in the third place.

Sebastien Loeb at 2017 Dakar Rally

World RX as a new challenge

After he has left WTCC, Loeb entered the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship with Team Peugeot - Hansen. In his debut season in the fast-growing series, Loeb won the race at Latvia, finished 2nd in Belgium and Sweden, and was 3rd at his home soil in France before finishing 5th in the final classification.

In the 2017 World RX season, Loeb progressed to the fourth place in the overall standings despite not winning any of twelve events but he was on a podium six times. In the 2018 World RX season, marked by a domination of Johan Kristoffersson who won eleven of twelve rounds, Loeb was the only driver except Kristoffersson who won championship round. He triumphed in Belgium. At the end of the season, Loeb was fourth in the points again.

Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena rejoined Citroen in the 2018 WRC season

Part-time WRC return in 2018, 79th win at Rally Catalunya

In 2018, parallel to his commitments in the World Rallycross Championship with Team Peugeot Hansen, Loeb also made a deal with Citroen to drive their C3 WRC in selected rounds of the World Rally Championship. After finishing fifth in Mexico and 14th in France, he scored a sensational victory at RallyRACC Catalunya. It was the 79th WRC victory in a career for him and his loyal navigator Daniel Elena.

For the 2019 WRC season, Loeb made a deal with Hyundai to drive their i20 WRC in six events. His best result was the third place at Rally Chile. In 2020, he remained on the par-time contract with Hyundai.

Sebastien Loeb as Hyundai driver at 2020 Rallye Monte--Carlo

Champion of Champions three times

Besides his success in rallying, Loeb is a three-time winner at the Race of Champions, after taking home the Henri Toivonen Memorial Trophy and the title “Champion of Champions” in 2003, 2005 and 2008. In 2004, he won the Nations’ Cup for France with Jean Alesi.

In 2006, Loeb finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans , driving Pescarolo C60 LMP1 prototype together with Eric Helary and Franck Montagny. It was his second Le Mans attempt after he retired from race in 2005.

F1 remained a dream

Several times in his career, Loeb had been associated with a move into Formula 1 in which he had had a couple of tests with Renault and Red Bull. However, he never was granted the FIA Super Licence and his desire to test himself in the most popular racing competition has never been fulfilled.

Loeb as Red Bull test pilot

In 2009, Loeb became a knight of Legion d’honneur and on two occasions was named French Sportsman of the year. He is married to Severine who often replaces Daniel Elena as co-driver for non-championship races. The couple has a daughter and they live near the town of Lausanne in Switzerland.

Video - Sébastien Loeb - The Artist of Rallying