Loeb’s decision cheers rivals

Sebastien Loeb’s rivals have welcomed the Frenchman’s decision to continue in the World Rally Championship despite accepting that he will remain the driver they must continue to strive to beat.

Citroen announced on Wednesday evening that its seven-time champion had signed a two-year deal to remain in the WRC for 2012 and 2013, although his participation two years from now is dependent on him agreeing to activate an option in his deal.

Mikko Hirvonen, currently 26 points behind Loeb in the race for the 2011 drivers’ crown, said: “If I were really lucky and Sebastien retires now and I win the title next year it wouldn’t feel the same. For sure you would appreciate that finally you get the title but in the back of my mind if he would be there and I manage to beat him it would mean more. It’s nice he stays and hangs around.”

Hirvonen’s Ford team boss, Malcolm Wilson, said: “It’s fantastic for the sport. It’s a great challenge for us because if we can find a way to keep him off the top step of the podium then we’re going to be doing a good job. But it’s not going to be easy.”

While conceding that Loeb’s dominance of the sport had prevented his drivers - notably Marcus Gronholm and more recently Hirvonen - from claiming a succession of world titles, Wilson said he would prefer that his drivers get the chance to take on Loeb. But asked whether he thinks Loeb will carry on beyond 2013, Wilson was uncertain.

“It will be like with Marcus,” said Wilson. “When he did Rally Finland in 2007 and Mikko was nine seconds behind him at the end of the rally he did his decision based on that rally. If it was nine seconds that year he knew it would be less the following year. I’m sure Seb will make the decision based on how competitive he is.”

Wilson’s son Matthew, who drives a semi-works Ford Fiesta RS WRC for the M-Sport Stobart team, said: “It’s great he doesn’t want to stop driving and when you look at his performances this year they’re among his best. For [the Ford] boys to beat him when he’s still in his primes is a bigger challenge.”