Sebastien Loeb to compete in 2016 Dakar Rally

Nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb will compete in the gruelling Dakar Rally for the first time in his career, the Frenchman has announced.

Loeb, who quit WRC at the end of the 2013 season, will drive a Peugeot 2008DKR, alongside legendary Carlos Sainz, 11-time Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres.

To prepare himself for the gruelling event, Loeb will compete in Rally Morocco, that is scheduled from October 3 to 9.

“I only discovered motor sport when I was 18 and I started competing in my first rallies,” said Loeb, who has scored 41 wins in his impressive WRC career. “Since then I have been interested in all types of different motor sports and Dakar is one of them. I think it’s a great challenge to go and compete there and drive in the desert.”

After calling time on his WRC career, Leob made a switch to World Touring Car Champion (WTCC) with Citroen, finishing third in his maiden campaign.

“The Dakar is completely different from the racing I’m doing at the moment. It will be very long, over two weeks, and you need to have the endurance to look after the driver and the car. It’s another approach to racing but I’ll discover that in January,’’ he added.