DAKAR MOTORSPORT NEWS

Loeb says aiming for 2017 Dakar victory “a bit pretentious”

By: Jamie Klein

Nine-time WRC champion Sebastien Loeb says that aiming to win the Dakar Rally at only his second attempt would be “a bit pretentious”.The Frenchman will make his second start in the legendary South American event on Monday, which begins with a 39km special stage starting in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion and finishing across the Argentine border in Resistencia.Last year, Loeb led the Dakar at the rest day, but a succession of mechanical problems and driving errors in the rougher terrain of the second week consigned him to ninth place at the finish, more than two hours down on teammate and rally winner Stephane Peterhansel.

Sebastien Loeb

Speaking to Motorsport.com ahead of this year’s competition, Loeb was quick to point out his lack of experience compared to Peugeot teammates Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz, and also pinpointed Toyota driver Nasser Al-Attiyah as a major victory threat.

“To [aim to] win, it seems to me a bit pretentious,” said the 42-year-old. “It’s true that last year we were fast on the rally-like stages, but off-piste things became more complicated.

“It’s this we have to work on this year. Now we have a clearer idea [of what to expect] and I hope that this allows me to be more competitive this year on different types of terrain.

“I’m not sure I am the man to beat, and all in the [Peugeot] team want to show their potential and win. And then there are a bunch of other drivers that have the possibility to win.

Be part of something big

“Sainz is very quick, and Peterhansel is no less. And then there’s Al-Attiyah to keep in mind. The list of possible winners is clear, but we will do our own job.”

Reflecting on his impressive Dakar debut last year, Loeb said the fact that the first half of the 2016 route called for little in the way of real navigation flattered him, as he won three of the first four stages.

But an appearance in last July’s Silk Way Rally – won by Peugeot’s Cyril Despres – has helped him to gain experience on rougher terrain, which is set to feature more heavily in this year’s Dakar route.

Said Loeb: “I must admit that last year in the first week there was practically no navigation. It called for exactly my driving style, what I have been used to.

“The second part was harder, with more navigation, but in the Silk Way Rally, for example, I didn’t do too badly [on rougher terrain].

“Daniel and I have worked on our navigation and now he is more precise with the notes, and I have a bit more experience on the sand and in the dunes.”