"It's by no means a foregone conclusion"
Crew facts
S.L.
- Sébastien Loeb is the greatest driver in the history of traditional rallying, having won nine WRC titles with Citroën between 2004 and 2012. In addition to his long reign, the Alsatian has also shown his skills in the WTCC (3rd in 2014-15), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2nd in 2006), and Rallycross (4th in 2017-18). His achievements also include a gold medal at the 2012 X Games and a victory at Pikes Peak in 2013 in a Peugeot 208.
- The former gymnast took on the Dakar challenge in 2016 and immediately became one of its leading figures. Having finished on the podium five times in nine appearances, Loeb also ranks sixth in stage wins in a car (28). Runner-up in the 2022 World Rally Raid Championship, he has two rally raid victories: the 2022 Andalucía Rally and the Morocco Rally in October 2025.
- The French motorsport legend, who will compete in the Dakar for the 10th time in 2026, has yet to win the world's toughest rally. After attempts with Peugeot, PH Sport, and BRX, he now intends to triumph with Dacia, both in Saudi Arabia and in the world championship.
- At 51, Loeb remains one of the most active drivers on the planet. In addition to the five rounds of the W2RC, he has recently taken part in events such as Red Bull Motormania, the Rallye Charlemagne Golden Palace, the Ultimate Cup Series, and some spectacular motorcycle racing days. A hectic schedule? 'It's part of how I relax,' jokes the quinquagenarian, whose determination remains intact.
Ambition
S.L.: "The 2025 season got off to a bad start, with an early retirement at the Dakar and then at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. From then on, we finished on the podium in the remaining three events, including a win at the Morocco Rally. We solved our minor problems as the year went on. Ending the season on this note is a good boost for our confidence. The new collaboration with Édouard (Boulanger) has gone well overall: we get on famously, we both have experience, and we speak the same language, so there is no reason it shouldn't work. We improved as the rallies progressed, and in Morocco, it was excellent. Let's hope we've found the right pace and the right system for the Dakar.
The goal is to reach the top step of the podium, but we know the Dakar is far from a foregone conclusion. It's a complicated rally, and anything can happen. The competition is fierce. Young drivers with a lot of energy have arrived; they drive really fast, and about 10 are capable of winning special stages.
And even when you win one and open the stage the next day, eight competitors can pass you. When you look at the last few Dakars, being in front can sometimes be a disadvantage because you end up losing more than you gained the day before. It's almost a sprint every day. We'll have to race wisely."
