Loeb, surprise invitee in the GT French Championship

The seven-time WRC Rally world champion, and in line for his eighth crown, Sébastien Loeb will be the surprise invitee for the last stage of the 2011 GT Tour!

The official Citröen driver, who has never hidden his interesting in circuit racing, will be on track October 29 and 30 in a Ferrari F458 GT3 prepared by AF Corse. He joins an exciting schedule, with about 15 races on program…

“Each season, I try to enjoy myself a little by driving on tracks,” explains Sébastien Loeb. “My schedule is usually very busy, but the timing was perfect to come race at the Castellet. It’s an attractive event that corresponds perfectly to my hopes. It’s the finale of the GT Tour, a championship I like very much, on a very nice track, the Paul Ricard HTTT. Everything was there to convince me…”

In the south of France, Sébastien Loeb will be behind the wheel of a Ferrari F458 prepared by Italian team AF Corse, a staple in GT.

“The package is complete and seductive,” confides the French champion, of whom the co-driver will be announced soon. “I’ve made several appearances in GT, to have fun, but this time I have all the elements in front of me to have a good result. That will be the goal. On a track that I already know, I want to fight for the podium!”

In his Red Bull livered car, Sébastien Loeb will do battle against a host of Porsche GT3-R, Mercedes SLS, Audi R8 LMS, other Ferrari F458, Aston Martin DBRS9 and Lamborghini Gallardo.

Sébastien Loeb’s presence at the start of the GT Tour finale will not be the only event of the weekend.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about a new project,” he confirms. “I have an announcement to make concerning my future.” So, rendezvous at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit, where Sébastien Loeb will be holding a press conference.

More than twenty cars will be present at the FFSA GT French Championship finale. The duo of Anthony Beltoise/Laurent Pasquali, in the Pro-GT by Almeras Porsche 997 GT3-R, and Stéphane Ortelli/David Hallyday, in the Team Audi France Audi R8, will be fighting for the title. The F4 French Championship, Supercopa SEAT Leon, Porsche Matmut Carrera Cup, Renault Clio Cup ELF and the Mitjet Series will also be on program. As usual, the GT Tour has also put together several free animations for the fans during this final round of 2011 to make it a true celebration of motorsport.