Q&A with Sebastien Loeb - I’m proud

Sebastien Loeb overcame at late-season challenge from Mikko Hirvonen to claim the World Rally Championship for an eighth time alongside Daniel Elena. He explains what it means to him and talks about his plans for more success in the future.

How does it feel to have taken world rally title number eight?

“For sure I feel very happy. For sure it’s a new record. We were equal until this week with Michael Schumacher who had seven. Now we have eight so... but I don’t really want to compare but everyone is speaking about it. For sure I’m proud of it. It’s very special and on the other side it was a special season. It’s been a really difficult one with a lot of battles everywhere. Every rallies we have to fight against a rival, sometimes Mikko, sometimes Seb Ogier, sometimes Jari-Matti. To finish like this after some bad moments like in Germany, Australia and France where we finally lost a lot of points. We start again from zero two rallies from the end so to be here now with this title, I’m really, really pleased about it. For sure there was some pressure and we had to give everything all the time but now we are here. That’s really good.”

You tried to battle for the win here in Wales but that wasn’t going to happen after the first stage today. What actually happened?

“It happened something unusual although it is not that unusual because we are used to it. We were on a very narrow road section between the two stages, there were some crests. I was just driving and I saw a car in front. I brake, I go to the side but the problem was it was a Spanish driver and she was on the wrong side. In [Wales] you drive on the other way but it was the wrong reflex. We just hit two cars in the front and we broke the radiator. This rally has been a radiator story.”

It certainly has, how disappointed were you today?

“The first thing Daniel asked me in the car was is it finished? I said I think but he said don’t worry because we are still world champion so no problem. We were not so disappointed because we came here and our goal was to win this title, that’s done and it’s the most important. For sure we were in a good fight with Jari-Matti but it was just for fun. We have to accept it. If I could chose one rally where this thing would happen then it would be here so no problem.”

It’s eight world titles now but how strong is your passion for the sport?

“For sure I started rally for passion. Quite quickly I was able to drive for a manufacturer and today I feel the same sensation when I am in the car. I still enjoy the rallies, I really like driving the rallies, that’s my main motivation. It will not change my life if it’s seven titles, eight titles or nine. I enjoy at the moment and I like what I do.”

What’s your goal for next year?

“Second place next year! For sure we have won eight titles in a row and I can only have the goal to win another title next year. There is no precise plan for the day I stop driving. I just hope I stay in motorsport but at the moment the next goal is the next title. If I can make it 10 titles I hope I can but I don’t know. I take everything year after year. For now my goal is next year, after that I will see. For sure everything is possible but we have no precise plan.”