Sports

Veteran Loeb in high spirits as he returns for World Rally Championships after 21 years

Thursday, June 23rd, 2022 03:44 | By
Veteran driver Sebastien Loeb powers his Ford Puma during yesterday’s Shakedown in Naivasha. INSET: Loeb with his navigator Isabelle Galmiche after they won the Monte Carlo Rally early this year. PHOTO/ Philip Kamakya

Kalle Rovanpera had not been born when veteran rally driver Sebastian Loeb was winning global titles in the sport. Now the two-speed stars with a huge age gap, come face to face in the latest leg of the World Rally Championships, the Safari Rally that will be flagged off today in Nairobi.

Loeb, who will be driving a Ford Puma, is returning to Kenya for the first time in 21 years and believes that age is just a number. The last time he competed in Kenya was in 2000.

“I’m happy to be back in Kenya after 21 years. Everything looks different from the last time I was here, previously we used to drive very long distances,” Loeb said.

He added: “I’ve tried to watch videos of the Safari Rally, but I’m sure watching video is very different from the real experience in real life. So I expect an entertaining weekend.”

Meanwhile, pride of the plains Sébastien Ogier will be defending his Safari Rally crown against old foe Loeb as they battle for the first time on Africa’s unforgiving terrain.

The FIA World Rally Championship legends face off for the third time this year at the sixth and toughest round of the series in the picture-postcard Great Rift Valley. The route teems with exotic wildlife including lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras and hippos.

Both drivers are contesting partial programmes this season. Nine-time champion Loeb drew first blood when the 47-year-old became the oldest WRC event winner in history at Rallye Monte-Carlo in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.

Title winner

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Ogier, eight times a title winner, claimed the Safari crown in 2021 when the sub-Saharan classic returned to the series following a 19-year absence.

This will be their first Kenyan clash, with Loeb’s only previous start way back in 2002.

Long straight roads where speeds could top 200kph contrast with rocky rutted tracks that reduce cars to little more than walking pace. And, to add to the excitement, thunderstorms are predicted during the four-day encounter.

If the forecasters are correct, rain will transform the dry sections into treacherous mud baths in minutes.

“Last year we had a really nice welcome and a great atmosphere,” said Ogier. “To win was the cherry on the cake and it will be great to try to repeat that this year with a bit of knowledge of what to expect from the stages.

“It’s definitely a rally where you have to never give up, and this year with the cars still being so new, we might have to be even more clever than before,” he added.

Long straight roads where speeds could top 200kph contrast with rocky rutted tracks that reduce cars to little more than walking pace. And, to add to the excitement, thunderstorms are predicted during the four-day encounter.

If the forecasters are correct, rain will transform the dry sections into treacherous mud baths in minutes.

“Last year we had a really nice welcome and a great atmosphere,” said Ogier. “To win was the cherry on the cake and it will be great to try to repeat that this year with a bit of knowledge of what to expect from the stages.

“It’s definitely a rally where you have to never give up, and this year with the cars still being so new, we might have to be even more clever than before,” he added.

Hyundai star Thierry Neuville is hunting for redemption after his bid for 2021 Safari success turned sour. The Belgian led for most of the rally and was on course for victory before rear suspension failure derailed his challenge.

Neuville will team up with Rally Italia Sardegna winner Ott Tänak as well as Oliver Solberg, who replaces Dani Sordo in the team’s third i20 N car.

“I feel comfortable on the stages and this year we are out for revenge,” explained Neuville. “It is a rough event and the weather can also play a big factor, but we are looking forward to it.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta will flag competitors away from the Nairobi start on Thursday lunchtime. Ahead lie 19 gruelling special stages around Lakes Naivasha and Elmenteita covering 363.44km before Sunday afternoon’s finish in Naivasha.

More on Sports


ADVERTISEMENT